About Birds Island in Las Glorias, México

Location: Map G12 D38 From INEGI. Scale 1:50.000 Guasave Municipality, State Of Sinaloa.

Birds Island is located at North East of México at the Gulf of California where there are also included 922 small islands which represent the 50% in total of the islands around all the Mexican territory, nowadays all Mexican islands are considered as Natural Protected Areas and they are special biosphere reserves. It’s a bird’s refuge of migration bird’s statement and wild fauna in August 2nd 1978.

This place of mainland made of stone and sand can be found typical vegetation of salt marshes like: mangrove, vidrillo and chamizos, besides typical vegetation of caducifolian low forest like mezquite, green wood, pitahaya, white twig among others.

The most interesting aspect about this small barren island is that by some cause (still not studied) the birds of different species such as white herons, cormorants, duck diver, gray heron, tildíos gulls and at the highest and and inaccessible trees such as pitahayas has their nest fishing eagles and buzzards, which are contemplated as species in danger given to its reduced number.

In spite of that exist other islands with similar characteristic they deposit its eggs in great number at this place.

• Birds coexist in harmony including predator birds.
• Depending on the time of the year, a succession of communities exists.
• The nests are used several times.
• This ecosystem requires mainly and special quick attention, because of its dimensions and because is extremely fragile, concerning about the human interference.
• As an only visible terrestrial predator we found the common snake in addition, has seen that some iguanas eat the eggs that fall down to the ground.

This trip takes place in the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez. It is one of the most important natural protected areas in Mexico because of its biodiversity. The reserve contains more than 900 Islands.

One of the most important plants is the mangrove. The mangrove controls the salinity of the soil. This allows other plants and animals to grow naturally. The dense mangrove growths provide sheltered areas where many animals find food.

Bird Island is an important refuge for many birds. Through out the year one can observe up to 120 different species of birds. Many of which can be seen in their breeding plumage.

Developed by: B.P. Pedro Rivera Arméndariz
Translated By: Ramiro Ibarra Villegas