Grupo 3/Group 3: Josh, Sienna, Mikaela

With a 7:30am start, we marched to the bus, Starbucks knockoff iced coffee (courtesy of OXXO corner store) in hand. We waved goodbye to Villa Purificación and started our journey to Chamela. With a quick stop at Texas To Go gas station, a strangely American name, we were on our way. The bus was mostly silent, aside from some intriguing conversation between Bailey and Clarisa. We drove through clouds of mist and passed a large flock of Black Bellied Whistling Ducks, Wood Storks, and other water dwelling birds. We arrived at the coastal town of La Manzanilla at 10:15am. It’s strange to think that only 52 hours prior we were 2,500 meters above sea level, and now we are being washed over by the smell of salt and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. For some of us, it was our first time seeing the ocean, and others, their first time seeing the Pacific Ocean. It is also humorous to have been in Mexico for a week before being introduced to the sea.

We visited the mangroves in an area that was fenced off at the edge of town near an estuary. We paid our entrance fees (well Steve did) and then entered. We immediately saw some large American crocodiles. A staff member of this ‘park’ threw filleted fish carcass into the air and it caught in the mouth a prehistoric beast (Jurassic theme song playing in our minds). This was our first introduction to American crocodiles, which we were later informed by Mica Mae that they can weigh up to 800 kilograms. You can distinguish them from alligators by their V-shaped snouts and their ‘evil grin’—sharp teeth gleaming in the sun. Within the mangrove sanctuary where the crocodiles resided we were entertained by the cacophony of squawks of the Great Tailed Grackle, and an astounding number of Egrets, both Snowy and Great alike, and herons (Great Blue, Green, Tri-colored). As we walked through the mangrove trees, iguanas hopped from branch to branch, a surprising agile reptile.

We concluded our experience with drinks and lunch on the beach in a small family-run establishment. The owners were a bit taken aback by the throng. The Pacific Ocean whispered temptingly in our ears as we tried to focus on the debrief. Steve gave us permission to dip our toes in the water, so of course we dipped our whole bodies. While some of us played in the waves, other ordered an overwhelming amount of ceviche and guacamole, and the piña coladas were flowing. The salty water was warm and refreshing, but not a pleasant mouth wash. The beach was busy with gringos, but more importantly, the magnificent frigatebirds, which soared effortlessly above our heads. Other honourable bird mentions were Royal Terns, Caspian Turns, and Heerman’s Gulls.

After some fun in the sun, and definitely no sunburns at all, we continued our drive to Chamela. The landscape outside the bus window was much dryer than that of Las Joyas. During the dry season the trees of Chamela loose their leaves a surprising 180 to the ecosystems of Las Joyas. Do not let the lack of leaves suggest to you that the biodiversity is any less impressive in Chamela. Upon arriving we had already been sorted into our rooms with the assignments creating new roommate pairings! Showers to clean off the salt of the ocean were a welcome sensation.

Steve and Javier took us on a walk down the Eje Central to get us our first up close look at the tropical dry forest. 4 species presentations were done on new species we encountered the: Magnificent Frigatebird by Claire, American Crocodile by Mica Mae, the Gumbo Limbo by Elyse (Bursara sp.) and finally the House Gecko by Sienna! Dinner was chicken tostadas and some sweet guava juice. As we bid goodnight, we were serenaded by the chirping of the Common House Gecko and the white noise of our ceiling fans.

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