National Geographic Sea Bird and all her inhabitants began the morning in El Barril, a network of channels lined with mangroves. The mangrove ecosystem is a critical habitat for a myriad of species. Mangroves provide protection and nutrients for many tropical fish who spend their early lives in this environment before entering the Pacific Ocean. The leaves of the mangrove drop from the trees year-round and are fed on by fungus and bacteria, changing a carbohydrate into a useable protein, and providing the necessary food for small tropical fish and many invertebrates. The trees themselves are often called land makers and provide protection from storms for the land they inhabit. This is also a habitat for many species of birds who hunt for fish and nest in the mangroves. Both Zodiacs and kayaks were dropped from our mothership, and everyone had a chance to see the mangrove environment.
Our afternoon was spent transiting the Hull Canal and spending the afternoon whale watching in the Boca de Soledad. Bahia Magdalena remains an extraordinary habitat for bird life and after some time in the Pacific waves we returned to calmer waters for more bird watching, as the sun approached sunset.
