Jennifer is a student in international programs at University of Delaware, researching a paper on Ramsar sites. Ramsar, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially Waterfowl Habitat is involved in the designation of critical wetlands for protection. Ria Lagartos, a major nesting area for the flamingo in the Caribbean, is the only Ramsar site in Mexico. Many people advocate that Ria Celestun be designated in a similar manner. After shutting off the motor, Felicity poled the flat-bottomed aluminum boat towards a flock of flamingos with noticeable differences in the color of the plumage.
Young birds are generally lighter in color.
We photographed the interactions among the birds. There was already some aggression among males in March. Soon, neighboring flamingos will squabble almost continually. They defend territories to feed, breed, or nest. I met with the director of the reserve, Sandra L. de la Portilla and her two rangers, Marcos Ake Quintal, and Eliodoro Caamal Couoh in their small office between the town of Celestun and the bridge.