Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Visitors' centers on all the islands will direct tourists to the best places for
birdwatching.
Serious birders will want to pick up a copy of Birds of the
Caribbean by Lucy Baker or A Checklist of the Birds of
Northern South America: An Annotated Checklist of the
Species and Subspecies of Ecuador, Colombia, Vene-
zuela, Aruba by Clemencia Rodner.
Marine Life
The waters surrounding Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao sustain a vast
assortment of fish and plants. Dozens of varieties of coral have formed
reefs over millions of years, and much of the underwater area around
Bonaire and Curaçao is protected by the government as national parks.
Aruba is noted for its outstanding wrecks. Underwater visibility off all
three islands is routinely more than 60 feet, and frequently up to 150 feet.
Crabby Critters
Hermit crabs live on land but lay their
eggs in water, so during spawning sea-
son, hundreds of them dash down the
hillsides to become parents on the coast.
After the baby crabs hatch, they spend a
few months in the ocean before trudging
onto land carrying enough water in their
shells to sustain themselves for a while. When they grow too big
for their backpack homes, they look about for larger dwellings -
sometimes killing and eating other hermits so they can steal the
deceased's shell. If a suitable shell isn't available, they will move
into almost any kind of container. And, they will eat almost any
kind of garbage - including sewage.
Ghost crabs never leave the beach. They tunnel into the sand,
then dart out of their holes, zip a few feet across the wet beach,
then burrow down again and disappear like a ghost. At night,
they emerge to feed, and during a full moon hordes of them can be
seen scooting around the beach.
Bonaire is expressly recognized for its spectacular underwater treasures,
and the entire island is a maintained as a Marine Park. Two sea areas are
designated research fields with no diving allowed, and Lac Bay is a
restricted area because of its mangroves. Islanders are serious about safe-
guarding nature, and visitors are cautioned not to remove or harm any-
thing in the protected areas. No one is allowed to feed the fish, touch the
coral, capture a critter, kick up the sand, or drop litter. That said, divers
and snorkelers are warmly encouraged to jump in and enjoy.
 
 
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