Agiabampo Estuary

The Agiabampo estuary lies along the border of Sonora and Sinaloa on the Sea of Cortes.  It is one of the most unique, and unstudied ecosystems in the world. The Estuary itself is guided by tidal forces and the Mangroves that line its shore.  It is over 15,000 hectares and has over 200 miles of shoreline.  It is a valuable stopover and wintering site for migratory and wintering birds of all types.  Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are resident as well as numerous fish and other marine species.  Indigenous and non-indigenous people have depended upon its bounty for centuries.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the area is the Coastal Thornscrub, or Pitayal, that goes to the shores.  Pitayal is a desert ecosystem that is visually dominated by the Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi), or Pitaya.  After the summer rains this abundant cactus flowers, providing nectar for all levels of pollinators, and creates a plentiful amount of fruits called pitayos that have been a mainstay seasonal food source of the local people and fauna for millennia.  The cactus also furnishes building material that is widely used throughout the region and at the Navopatia Field Station.

The estuary and surrounding thornscrub are home to over 800 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants and over 225 species of resident and migratory birds.  In 1998 it was named a Zona Prioritaria for bird conservation and least appropriate for development by the Mexican government.

The Alamos Wildlands Alliance began spending time and making observations at the Agiabampo estuary in 2002.  It took mere minutes for all involved to realize the inimitable beauty the area possessed, as well as the danger to its existence.  The staff of the Alamos Wildlands Alliance then began forming friendships and contacts in the area with the generous help and support of Kenny and Maggie Dessain.  With their help, the Navopatia Field Station was established to grow upon their hard work in protecting the surrounding area. Since then we have instigated a long term monitoring program in order to gather baseline data on this relatively unknown setting.  AWA has several projects involving aquatic and land bird surveys, in depth vegetation sampling, small mammal surveys, mistnetting for passerines, large mammal assessments, and herpetological inventories.

The Alamos Wildlands Alliance’s overall goal is to establish a reserve in the area that will protect its unique biologic and cultural diversity.  One of the main objectives of the reserve will be to foster an appreciation for the region and provide economic motivation to maintain an intact ecosystem for future generations.

Our efforts thus far have involved local families and community members, Mexican non-profits, U.S. and Mexican universities, ecotourism providers, and researchers.  Through support of our members, staff, and other organizations this ambition will be attained.  Please visit the support area of our website if you are interested in helping.