Re: Interpretive Mangrove Birding Tour on Saturday

Posted by Jane G on February 4, 2010, 8:34 pm, in reply to "Interpretive Mangrove Birding Tour on Saturday"
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This is an incredible tour, whether or not you're into birds. Difficult as it may be to believe, there are NO mosquitos in the mangrove at that time of day, at least there weren't last year around the same date. The following is from the Guadalajara Reporter: Paddling the Mangrove One off-the-beach attraction, well worth your time and right here in La Manzanilla, was an eco-tour of our mangrove. My friends thought it would be about boating with the caimanes, our local crocodiles who inhabit the lagoon. In fact, it was a one and a half-hour odyssey into a primeval ecosystem exploding with the color and calls of exotic birds, iguanas, and other life forms pertinent to the well-being of Planet Earth. Offered by Immersion Adventures, a La Manzanilla-based eco-tourism company, founder Davison “Kayak Dave” Collins met the evening’s tour group at the launch point near the head of the lagoon. After a brief introduction of what was ahead, he and co-guide Joseph Rutherford led us through an archway to our boats. In retrospect, that simple arch might be described as a gateway to another universe. Dave paddled our panga, equipped with seat cushions and binoculars for each member of the group, slowly into the abyss. As we left the viewing platform behind, the majesty of the centuries-old trees and the hush of the lagoon were reminiscent of an ancient cathedral. The sulfurous stench of procreant decay was soon forgotten as Dave explained the workings and importance of the mangrove, the reason for the reek (falling leaves decomposing), and the various birds we would see. And see them we did. White, blue, and green herons, spoonbills and boatbills, ibises and egrets, and many more: flying, nesting, roosting, and just doing their thing. Dave pointed out dozens of iguanas basking on branches, and jockeyed the boat around until everyone could see whatever merited our attention. We even saw a few croc’s, and Dave tapped his oars on the side of the boat to alert them to our presence. What we didn’t see, unbelievably at sunset in the middle of a swamp, were mosquitoes. The mangrove tour is just one of many ecologic excursions and activities offered by Immersion Adventures. Tours are offered any evening during the season when three or more people are signed up, and the cost is 250 pesos per person. For additional information, please visit www.immersionadventures.com.

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