Trap Doors and Dolphins

A trip to Bahia Kino Sonora Mexico with a group of like-minded nature lovers with Prescott Natural History Institute makes a great start to the summer.  It's a long van ride with several stops for stretching, potty breaks and lunch. Once we arrived at Bahia Kino and checked into our rooms at Casa Blanca Inn, we welcomed dinner and margaritas!

Nice Place to Stay - Casa Blanca Inn

The next few days are filled with hikes in the desert, getting to know about Seri (Comcaq) Indians, talks about the natural history of the area, boat rides to islands and walks on the beautiful beaches. 

This story shares my trip to Tiburon Island, what I found that inspired my new jewelry project and sharing the Gulf of California with many dolphins and sea birds.  Our group climbed aboard a fishing boat (with large motor) on a sandy beach at Bahia Kino.  The boat, on a trailer, had a ladder next to it helpful for climbing.  On went the life jackets and a vehicle backed us into water at the boat ramp. 

Off we went!  The rough water that day made for lots of bouncing on hard seats but the sun and clear skies balanced that.  Four hours later we landed on Tiburon Island, climbed out, took off the life jackets and started exploring. 

Standing on Tiburon Island

I started looking for sea shells and explored the coast and the desert.  Unfortunately other people over time visited the island before us and their trash was visible many places.  On top of a hill were several sizes of round and oval shells - flat with a swirl on one side and raised in a swirl on the other.  

Sea Snail

Underside of Sea Snail with the Operculum

Collecting them made me begin thinking of the beads and buttons and jewelry I could create.  I also wondered why they were only on this hill.  Later after showing them to the other members of the group, we speculated on them.  Bob, a group member, found a sea snail still in his shell with one of these round discs closing the opening.  Of course I took pictures!  and researched the sea shell trap doors when I got back home. 

These discs are called 'operculum' meaning a little lid.  They are an anatomical structure that exist in many sea snails.  One of their functions is to keep the sea snail humid and protected.  I've read that the snail often floats upside down in tide pools and the operculum, tightly closed, would indeed keep him moist. 

Over the years people used these 'trap doors' or 'cat's eyes' in incense making and in jewelry.  My next blog will show you what I did with them when I returned to Prescott AZ.

Lunch

While on the island, we ate a lovely picnic lunch, played in the water, some went snorkeling , and finally we climbed back in the boat to return to Bahia Kino.  On the return trip, Blue-footed Boobies and Brown Boobies were standing together on a cliff.  Cormorants and Brown Pelicans could be seen on the coast lines and we spotted a Red-billed Tropic Bird in the water. 

Juvenile Brown Pelican

Red-billed Tropic Bird

  All of a sudden the dolphins appear and there must be 40 of them.  Watching them jump in the air and swim beside the boat provides great entertainment and  a sense  of wonder.  What an amazing day!  If you want to see the dolphins please click on the link below and enjoy them.

https://vimeo.com/273151016