The first stop on the journey was Fantasy Lake which is physically protected from winds and waves by the spiraling limestone walls surrounding the deep watered bay. Boat Captain Udoud Masaharu made the first discovery of the day, which proved to be rather monumental. Udoud had spotted tiny pink flowers born on vertical spikes covering a previously unrecognized tree. Despite the combined decades of experience among the Paddling Palau naturalists, no one on board could identify this precious set of flowers. | |
The female was initially wary of the free diving intruders, though she quickly habituated and began to focus on her important task. Meanwhile her mate was spotted nearby by tour leader, Macstyl Sasao. The male Cuttlefish was more defensive and raised a pair of arms, signaling his annoyance at the intrusion. The male remained vigilant, standing guard of his female lest a predator or rival male move into his territory. Upon hatching the juvenile cuttlefish will recruit to the myriad bays and lagoons of Palau's inner reef system. The youngsters will then hone their predatory skills, targeting small fish like gobies and blennies. With lightning speed the cuttlefish extend their arms and trap their prey in the grip of their suction cups. The strike occurs so quickly that one is usually left with only the evidence of glittering fish scales scattered in the wake. The Cephalopods are the Invertebrate Zenith in terms of intelligence. Young cuttlefish will quickly learn to follow snorkelers over the reef. As the fish are distracted by the presence of the floating hominids, the super Mollusks take advantage of their clueless prey. It's not uncommon for the baby cuttlefish to become so habituated as to allow a snorkeler to gently hold them in their hand! By: Ron Leidich |
The birds and bats quickly responded to the changes in light, as the normally crepuscular fruit bats took to the wing in apparent celebration of the loss of light. The bird calls increased noticeably as well. The show came to an end in less than 30 minutes. Still reeling from Udoud's prophetic insights, I had to ask how he was so well connected to celestial events. I was hoping to hear that our boat captain had been following NASA's website or listening in to a Neil DeGrasse Tyson pod cast. Instead he simply announced "facebook." All hail social media and the powers it bestows. Someday I vow to be social. Until then, I'll just enjoy the pleasant celestial surprises as they come along. By: Ron Leidich |
What do you think of when you hear Medusa? For me, it's the Greek myth of Medusa. One of the most intriguing myths to me. Medusa was the child of two ancient ocean deities. A ravishingly beautiful maiden victimized by the goddess Athena out of jealousy. Turned into a monster with snakes for hair and a gaze that would turn those who looked into her eyes to stone. But did you know Medusa is also another name for jellyfish? Fitting if you compare the jellyfish body as her head and the tentacles to her serpent hair. In Palau our most well know lake and top attraction is our Jellyfish Lake. You swim amongst thousands of stingless jellyfish. The experience is quite peaceful and majestic. |
Searching for these elusive eels in Palau's waters is not easy, though it does take you into some especially stunning habitats. The fresh water rivers of Babeldoab lead to stunning waterfalls and clear water pools. The Giant Marbled Eels can be seen free swimming in these pools before disappearing into murky crevices. Even more bizarre is the presence of the eels in several of Palau's salt water lakes. The limestone islands of Palau boasts an astonishing 74 salt water lakes, several of which are topped with a fresh water lens. Apparently the saline content in several of these lakes is just tolerable enough for the eels to survive. |
We're all entranced by the sights and smells of the flowering plants. The Angiosperms or flowering plants have been attracting pollinating insects since the time of dinosaurs (The Cretaceous). The showy flowers entice birds, bats, butterflies, bees, and moths with the promise of juicy nectar and nutritious pollen. In return, the flowers only ask that their pollen be spread from flower to flower with the hope of fertilizing the next generation of seeds. Should seeds develop from successful pollination, the plant's next task is the dispersal of its propagules. In temperate zones Maple trees create "Helicopter Seeds" which spin wildly away from the parent tree riding the wind on their way to the forest floor. Oak trees create acorns which are then carried all over the forest by hungry squirrels and birds. In Palau, the primary mammalian disperser is the fruit bat, which can carry Pandanus & Breadfruit seeds to the most remote corners of the rock islands. The colorful fruit dove is more than happy to get carry the delicious fig fruits high up into the canopy of a host tree. The Mangrove & Littoral zone trees, shrubs, and vines use ocean currents to get their progeny from place to place. The coconut is perhaps the most famous example of an ocean dispersed seed. |
On occasion however, the bird is unable to free itself from the clusters of seeds. As the bird struggles for freedom, it only becomes more deeply ensnared by the sticky glue. Ultimately the bird becomes exhausted and perishes on the forest floor, providing not only the desired dispersal, but the bonus of fertilizer for the germinating seeds. On May 16, 2019 a group of visiting students and professors from Redlands University were able to witness this drama unfold on the island of Ulong. While hiking into the forest to inspect an ancient village site, the students watched a young Collared Kingfisher hop through the forest in obvious distress. The team of students gently captured the struggling bird by wrapping it up in t-shirt. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that the Kingfisher had become ensnared in a cluster of seeds from the bird catching tree. With great affection, the students removed the seeds using coconut oil. The beautiful blue Kingfisher eventually regained its composure and flew back into the forest accompanied by cheers and applause from the students. | |
Oby Roland is the newest member of the Paddling Palau family and she seems to have a natural gift for photography. While working as an assistant chef on a recent camping expedition, Oby picked up the guide's camera & telephoto lens and started snapping off a few frames. Oby grew up with a slingshot in her hand, so "hunting" with the camera felt perfectly natural. |
| When Oby returned to camp to show off her first images, the expedition guests and staff were stunned. Even the guide had never seen such perfect shots of the elusive flycatcher after 25 years of leading tours and photographing birds. Beaming with pride, Oby disappeared back down the beach in search of more photographic treasure. The entire team is looking forward to seeing what she'll capture next! |
Eight year old Kendra Miluu Leidich was born and raised on the picturesque tropical island of Palau, located in the remote Western edge of Micronesia. Born of an American father and Palauan mother, she's grown up with two languages and a pair of contrasting cultural values. Her earliest memories include snorkeling from the safety of her father's back while peering over his side in search of sea horses, turtles, and multi-colored tropical fish. A typical weekend for this Palauan youth may include building sand castles on pristine beaches and searching for dolphins on the front of the family boat. Her Palauan family customs, also held over weekends, may include traditional first birth ceremonies or house warming parties. Despite this idyllic Micronesian upbringing, many of the influences surrounding little Miluu have been Western. From the television to the radio and even her school text books, English is becoming the dominant language. Western materialism has subtly shifted the Micronesian society's priorities away from clan cohesion and in the direction of more individual pursuits. The dreams of the Western world have found their way into the hearts and minds of even the most remote islands of Oceania. |
With a keen interest in Etymology, we ended the day with a bit of online research. It turns out the genus name Oberonia was applied in reference to Oberon, the Fairy King of Medieval & Renaissance literature. In William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon is the king of all fairies and is fighting for custody with his wife Titania over their child. | |