By: Juanita Fonseca
The story of my association with the Ensenada de Pabellones lagoon complex begins thirty years ago with my first visit. Back then I lived with my family in a fishing community not far away. Despite visiting other communities near the site many times, I had never really thought about the wonders that were hidden behind the wall of mangroves. I just remember that in every visit I would see some pelicans and herons along the edges of the mangroves, and flocks of birds flying above us. A few years passed before I returned again, but now my visits focus on studying the birds that utilized the site, which joined the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) in 2008.
Shorebirds foraging in the intertidal flat. Photo: A. Mendoza
Over the course of several years in my role as a biologist, I was able to support the shorebird counts at the site. Ensenada de Pabellones is located in the central coastal region of the state of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico. Counting birds on the inter-tidal flats at Ensenada de Pabellones is quite the challenge! It is practically difficult to count birds on a traditional outboard boat where it is not possible to get close. We can only marvel at the groups of thousands of shorebirds feeding themselves and resting. A much more feasible way of carrying out the monitoring is by airboat which are able to travel in shallower waters. My first experience on an airboat was incredible, as I had never entered so deep into the site let alone had I ever seen so many birds together! The flocks of Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri), American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), and other species consisted of thousands of birds.
Left: Flock of shorebirds flying over the intertidal zone of Ensenada de Pabellones. Right: Flying flock of Western Sandpiper. Photos: Juanita Fonseca.
On every trip that we made to count birds, the people were amazed to see the airboat and asked us lots of questions. We explained to them that our presence in the area was to study birds and we told them about the marathon journeys that some species undertake and how important this special place is for shorebirds. For their part, the fisherman told us of their own experiences and also gave us valuable information about the places that they had seen birds congregating, and how with each passing year they had noted a decline in numbers in a changing ecosystem.
At Ensenada de Pabellones, the coastal lagoons, swamps, marshes and estuaries represent a paradise for more than 300 thousand migratory shorebirds, as well as incredible numbers of migratory ducks from the USA and Canada, and large flocks of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). It is also possible to observe American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). These experiences havehad a massive impact on my personal and professional life. Since then I have sworn to continue with my study of birds and to contribute my grain of sand to the conservation of this marvelous ecosystem upon which we all depend.
Left: Airboat in a coastal lagoon. Photo: Juanita Fonseca. Right: Wild crocodile resting. Photo: V. Salomón
Besides, in this highly productive place so full of life, the diversity of fisheries resources such as prawns, mollusks and fish represents an important source of sustenance and the principal source of employment for many of the inhabitants of the coastal communities. Recreational trips also form part of the economy, albeit on a lesser scale. Despite the varied problems of contamination and reduction in fisheries stocks, the communities try to live in harmony with the nature of the site. In support of the communities and the ecosystem several organizations such as Pronatura, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and more recently the WHSRN Executive Office are working in the area, contributing to the conservation of the site through scientific study and community engagement.
My perspective has changed since those original casual visits with my family. Now I understand the richness and the importance of the varied ecosystem services that the lagoon complex provides to the region. My family has also changed, and although the person who most enjoyed the fishing and day trips is no longer with us, the visits to the fishing communities, enjoyment of the sunrises, the beach, and the fishing remain the best way to continue paying homage to his memory and to contribute to the appreciation of a place so special as is Ensenada Pabellones.
Cover Photo: Shorebirds roosting at Ensenada de Pabellones, Mexico. Photo: Juanita Fonseca.
