With the first rays of sunlight, the silence of the Ecuasal wetland in Mar Bravo, Salinas, Ecuador, is broken by the sound of oystercatchers and grey-headed gulls at this magical meeting point for migratory, resident and wandering birds.
The Ecuasal wetland is home to some 140 species of seabirds and shorebirds that arrive each year from the North or South, in search of a bit of warmth, depending on the time of year, becoming a resting place on their long journeys.
The particular characteristics of the wetland, which make it a preferred site for these species, are: tranquility, warm climate and sufficient food provided by the invertebrates that abound in the mud of the salt pools.
Very close to dawn, it is already possible to enjoy hundreds of birds floating in the salt pools; from there flocks of pelicans begin their journey a little further north (towards the islet of Pelado, in the north of the Ruta del Sol, where they spend the day and feed on local fish).
Oystercatchers, easily recognizable by their black and white plumage and because the tip of their beak is a bright orange, also begin very early in the morning a sort of symphony composed of the sounds of the breeze and their songs.
Dawn and dusk are the best times to enjoy their presence, as it is more difficult to observe the birds at midday, as there are only a few left in the pools and on the beach.
At sunset, when surfers and fishermen leave the beach, the wetland once again welcomes hundreds of birds that return from the south of Manabí and Guayas to rest in the saline waters of the pools.
Ben Hasse is a Dutch scientist who has dedicated more than 20 years to the study of seabirds and shorebirds in Ecuador; and is perhaps the most recognized scientist in this area in our country.
According to Hasse, in the Ecuasal pools there are 38 species of shorebirds, 9 types of seagulls, 10 terns, 5 types of ducks, among others.
He is also the authorized guide and the most recommended for these tours. It is worth remembering that a permit is required to enter since this is private property.
This is another of the destinations along the Ruta del Sol, which we at Ballenita do encourage you to visit, since they often go unnoticed even though they are very close to our main destinations.
Ben Haase
Naturalist-Guide
Director of the Whale Museum
Salinas (Guayas) Tel. (04) 277 83 29 – 277 73 35
e-mail: bhaase@ecua.net.ec
website: www.femm.org
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