A rare and fascinating creature was spotted
on the evening of November 15, 2000 .
The Antillean Manatee, a large and gentle
mammal is not a common resident of the biobay.
Visitors that special night were thrilled with the opportunity
to see a strange slow glowing form that approached the boat.
The manatee then popped up from the water and showed everyone
his sparkly chubby
face.
A second manatee appeared and they played together demonstrating
their social behavior.
This was a special treat for Capt. Sharon
Grasso as it was the first time she had ever encountered
a manatee on the bay. And wouldn't you know it? That
day happened to be her birthday!
Adult manatees can grow to be ten feet
in length and weigh up to a thousand pounds. These giants
of the
sea
can live both in fresh and saltwater habitats and feed mostly
on grass.
Manatees have suffered great losses
due to accidents with motorboats. As an endangered
species, manatees need all the help they can get in order
to avoid becoming extinct. With more and more people coming
to the island by boat we should all encourage the use of
extreme caution when operating in the waters of Vieques.
In The
Name of Love, Worm Style Odontosyllis
enopla
Witnessed recently has been the unusual mating
ritual of the luminescent threadworm . For years Capt.
Sharon has been seeing an exceptionally bright glowing spot,
much brighter than the dinoflagellates.
It is just recently that first mate
Kevin captured one in a bucket. It was successfully identified
as a type of marine worm that ejects a bright blue
glow into the water to attract her mate. It can only be
seen for five nights after the full moon and is quite a
spectacle.
The
Spotted Eagle Ray Aetobatus
narinari
a
glowing kite-like form that trails away from the side of
our boat. The flight of the spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus
narinari,
through the high concentration of the dinoflagellates is
an unforgettable encounter with a common resident of the
bay.
Spotted Eagle Rays can attain a size of 7.5 feet and
weigh
500 pounds they primarily feed on mollusks. Rays are most
often seen in motion flying along the floor of the sea and
they are frequently observed leaping in the air. Vieques
has an abundant variety of rays that also include the Southern
Stingray and the Devil's ray.
One
of the most exiting spectacles in the Biobay is a sudden
burst of light and
Welcome
back Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus
ruber
Once again the glorious greater flamingo is
found on the island.
At a location that we will keep secret
at their request three flamingos have been seen making their
home. The birds, originally beige in color, now have their
fabulous pink color. They seem to be doing so well lately
that a fourth
flamingo
has joined the group. Local fisherman Captain Israel Rosa
has also spotted a different flock of the birds in another
location in Vieques.
Flamingos have a history in Vieques
that dates back to the 1800's when they were originally
sited. The flamingos have lived in Vieques and Culebra from
time to time but
have
lately stayed away from our beautiful islands. The last
sighting in Vieques before this one was eight years ago
in the salt flats behind the biobay. Can it be that the
return of the flamingo is a sign of a recovering environment?
We sure hope so!!!
