The coastline of La Paz Bay offers natural environments for observing marine and coastal birds in Baja California Sur. The combination of mangroves, shallow areas, and islets has fostered the constant presence of various species, some resident and others migratory, which use this area as a feeding, resting, and seasonal transit point.
During tours of the bay, it is possible to identify areas with a higher concentration of birds. One such area is a recently formed islet, created by dredging operations and known among fishermen as “Las Malvinas,” located approximately 1.4 kilometers offshore, opposite the El Conchalito neighborhood.
At this site, natural dynamics have led to the frequent arrival of diverse species, particularly during the winter months, when the presence of migratory birds intensifies.
According to Hubert Méndez, coordinator of Manglitours, a company that offers tours of the bay as part of traditional fishing and tourism activities in the area, this spot is notable for the variety of birds that can be observed at close range during the tours.
“Many birds congregate here, especially on this small island that was formed by dredging; it’s a place where we constantly find different species,” he explained. Among the most visible is the blue-footed booby, one of the birds most frequently seen during the tours due to its physical characteristics and behavior.
Another species that marks the winter season is the American white pelican, whose arrival coincides with the colder months. “Around this time of year, the white pelican visits us, which we call ‘borregón’ because of its white plumage,” commented Méndez, noting that this bird often shares the space with other species such as the diving duck and various gulls that stay near the fishing areas.
In addition to these birds, the Ensenada de La Paz bay is home to shorebird species such as the Pacific oystercatcher, a bird associated with intertidal zones where it forages among rocks and sandbanks.
Among the gulls and terns, the black-headed gull, the plumbeous gull, and the Baja California gull can be observed, as well as the least tern, the Caspian tern, the royal tern, and the elegant tern, all characteristic of coastal environments. Frigatebirds are also a common sight in the bay’s landscape. The swallow-tailed frigatebird is one of the most easily identifiable species due to its prolonged flight over the sea.
In the mangroves and calm waters, a variety of herons can be found, including the great egret, the great egret, the scarlet heron, the black-crowned night heron, and the pale-crowned night heron, which find suitable conditions for feeding and shelter in these areas.
These sightings are integrated into tourism experiences that combine sailing through the bay with traditional regional activities, such as fishing and the harvesting of scallops, allowing visitors to learn about both the biodiversity and the practices that have historically sustained coastal communities.
The diversity of birds recorded in La Paz Bay reflects the natural conditions that allow for the presence of marine and coastal species in this environment. The area’s characteristics favor the use of the zone throughout the year by various birds as a resting place, feeding ground, or stopover during their seasonal migrations in the La Paz area.
Source: oem
