SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE TIME OF CORONA: PUERTO VALLARTA 2020-2021

In public health social distancing, which is also referred to as physical distancing, is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.

Today I am sharing a new blog posting which I have entitled "Social Distancing in the Time of Corona: Puerto Vallarta." I know that might sound pretty ominous, but hopefully I have made it something which I hope you will find entertaining, interesting, and informative. So let's meet our local amigos which have not heard of the virus and are happy to share their world with us.  

Saludos and away we go!

MARINE LIFE

A porcupine Puffer fish puffs up with his spines as a defense mechanism which are immediately retracted when he is released. He is part of the extended Pufferfish family, but unique because of this ability. It's definitely a good idea to have a strong pair of dive gloves when attempting this maneuver.


       

An Eagle Ray who I always comment on looks like he is flying with his "wings."

 

A spiny lobster just "hanging out" which we returned to his hidey hole.

GARROBOS

Stumpy is the old man of our Garrobo family and his age has been estimated to be over 25 years. One local theory is that Stumpy received his name because his once beautiful long black tail was somehow "lost" or "cut off" and thus he became a "Stumpy." More research on that theory is definitely needed.

                             

 Stumpy is a vegetarian and has a voracious appetite which I indulge almost on a daily basis. His favorite foods include pineapple, tomatoes, starfruit, and old ripe banana skins. I believe Stumpy now recognizes me on sight since he comes running through the heavy ground coverage when he sees me or maybe his reptilian brain remembers that I bring yummy Garrobo food. 

                        

Recently Stumpy has made friends with a new younger Garrobo who I have named Stella since I believe she is very pretty and consequently she must be a female. Young and "lovely" Stella has a typical long beautiful tail which is indicative of her Garrobo species. I obviously find these "Dinosaurs" fascinating and I hope you find them as attractive as I do.

BIRDS

As I just mentioned Pelicans are my favorite of our local bird species, but they definitely do not qualify in the "social distancing" category. They are a very gregarious bird and hanging out together seems to make them happy, but I love them just the same.

PELICANS are my favorite of the bird species and whether they are brown or white I think they are wonderful. Very few birds attract attention like Pelicans do. Soaring high in the sky in flocks, forming a near perfect “V” or diving abruptly within a school of fish I find Pelicans simply amazing.


Pelicans have the largest gular sac (pouch below their beak and from which the young ones feed). They build their nests in mangroves or in low coastal bushes. In our area they nest in the rocks of Los Arcos which we can see from our home. Females will lay two to three eggs and both parents will participate during incubation and feeding.

                                 

                  Los Arcos National Marine Park in Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta 

Pelicans have legs with four webbed toes. Most have a throat patch of bare skin called a gular patch. Pelicans feed mainly on fish, squid, and other marine species in general and they nest in colonies and are monogamous birds.

Here in the Bay of Banderas I doubt you’ll find an area where Pelicans cannot be found. They are just everywhere you look, perched on a fisherman’s boat, a tree, a dock, or just floating in the water.

                         

WHITE HERONS

 

A white heron (garza blanca in Spanish) mother feeding its young as seen in Puerto Vallarta. This photo is definitely one of my favorites. White Herons symbolizes wisdom, faithfulness, vigilance, and also speaks of your sense of independence.

The majestic white heron can often be seen among other water-friendly birds including seagulls and pelicans along the shore. White Herons also signifies determination because there will be plenty of marshes and ponds that a person will encounter in life and which a person will have to wade through. Very philosophical these birds!

CHACHALACAS are loud and raucous and the noisiest of birds, but I find them fascinating to watch as they stroll around our gardens where they seem appreciative of receiving vegetarian leftovers which I bring them. Don't you find their red eyes especially attractive!

As social birds chachalacas often gather in groups of ten to fifty individuals in trees bearing fruit and where they can rest. They often take dust baths which are used primarily for parasite defense, but which can also be part of the courtship ritual.

                        

Chachalacas feed on fruits, insects, and worms. They build nests in trees and lay two to three large white eggs which only the female incubates. The young are a precocial species which means the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching.

                           

Chachalacas are born with the instinct to immediately climb and take refuge in their nesting tree and are able to fly within a few days of hatching. I was fortunate enough to "catch" this young Chachalaca exploring his new environment which is a reminder that I should never leave the house without my camera! 

              

THE BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON are small birds compared to many of their long limb heron relatives. They’re most active at night or at dusk when you may see their ghostly forms flapping out from daytime roosts to forage. In the light of day adults are striking in gray-and-black plumage with long white head plumes.


These social birds breed in colonies of stick nests usually built over water. They live in fresh, salt, and brackish wetlands and are the most widespread heron in the world. Certainly a very adaptable bird, the black-crowned night heron!

 
BROWN PELICANS

 
A Brown Pelican taking a little time out for grooming which is no easy thing and I think he is especially handsome.

As I mentioned in the beginning of the posting I simply adore pelicans and consequently here is more of this bird species which I just had to share. The Brown Pelican is a very gregarious bird and lives in flocks of both sexes throughout the year. The brown pelican is a monogamous breeder within a breeding season, but does not pair for life. 

Nesting season peaks for the Brown Pelican during March and April. The male chooses a nesting site and performs a display of head movements to attract a female. At the nest site major courtship displays such as head swaying, bowing, turning, and standing on its legs without any support are performed by both the sexes.

Once a pair forms a bond overt communication between them is minimal. It is a colonial species with some colonies maintained for many years. The brown pelican flies at a maximum height of 60 to 70 feet above the ocean and can spot schools of fish while flying. The Brown Pelican is a piscivore (a great new word for me) which means he feeds primarily on fish. Well, enough already with the Pelicans!

The following link will take you to my blog posting on the marine turtles which I also find fascinating and which I believe  belong in the category of "Social Distancing" 

THE SEA TURTLES OF PUERTO VALLARTA AND MEXICO

I hope you enjoyed this "Social Distancing" album with images of some of our favorite local amigos. It certainly has made me realize how very fortunate we are to live in this wonderful environment. Until next time, wishing you safe travels and grand adventures wherever the road should take you, Laura