Create 50 guardians for Bahia Magdalena mangrove

The last activity we shared here was the installation of a temporary fence on the beach to protect some of the critical areas for the Gulf grunion, Red Knot, and other shorebird species. This action is part of a project we carry out, and this season marked the fourth consecutive year we have delineated these areas for the reproduction of the Gulf grunion, where shorebirds and other migratory birds feed and rest. This task is very time-consuming, so we dedicated March, April, and the first half of May to monitoring and maintaining these zones while continuing the #ComparteLaPlaya (Share The Beach) campaign. This campaign encourages visitors to learn about our biodiversity, enjoy it, and respect its space.

Without neglecting these activities, we also paid close attention to the birds’ response, and during one of our observation moments, we encountered the Red Knot with code “6AE,” a bird captured in this same area 14 years ago—in 2011—as part of research by the Bird Lab at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur. Imagine the stories of adventure and survival that little friend could tell! We concluded this successful season with the removal of the temporary fence on May 23.

In the second half of May, we began, for the second year, monitoring the reproduction of the Least Tern. For this, we received support from Pro Esteros and Tom Ryan Ecological Consulting, who have been training us since March 2024 to track the nests of this migratory species, which uses a beach located 25 km south of our town as a nesting site. This season, we recorded 40 more nests than last year, not necessarily due to population growth, but because we expanded the sampling area. Additionally, some nests were flooded by tides—a natural threat to the species—so it's likely that the parents attempted nesting again after the initial failure.

One of the most exciting results was re-sighting three adult Least Terns with alphanumeric bands on their legs among the 80+ nests recorded. These individuals had been banded in the same area and were also reproducing in May 2023, captured by colleagues from Pro Esteros and Tom Ryan Ecological Consulting. These observations offer the first signs of site fidelity as a nesting area. Furthermore, in mid-July, we banded the first five chicks—less than 20 days old—with alphanumeric codes, and we hope to follow this breeding colony in the coming years.

At the beginning of July, we launched our coastal bird monitoring, made possible by the “Program for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Priority Species” (PROREST) from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas. We carry out one to two visits per month to six sites spread across nearly 60 km of the Sonoran coast within the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve. In each zone, we walk a 4 to 6 km transect, first recording environmental variables such as wind speed and direction, temperature, wave conditions, tide level, and cloud cover. Then we proceed to observe, identify, and record all birds present, and at the end of the day, we tally the totals per species.

This project allows us to keep learning to recognize birds in their wide variety of plumages—summer breeding plumage, winter basic plumage, this summer’s hatchlings, and young birds of one year or more. It is both challenging and fascinating.

In recent months, we've realized that since 2023 it has been deeply rewarding to spend more time in the field throughout the year, learning not only about birds but also about the rest of the common flora and fauna around our town. We've come to appreciate the ecological processes and the immense biodiversity in this arid little corner of Mexico. We are so fortunate and eager to continue growing.

Links:

• Visit Pronatura Noroeste website
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