A​​fter almost 8 years of absence, the Short finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) returned to the Midriff Island Region of the Gulf of California, an event that marks a very special moment for the area. This is one of the 16 species of cetaceans registered in the zone. Although they belong to the dolphin family, pilot whales are distinguished by their bulbous head, their completely black color, and because males can grow up to be almost 19 feet long.

Pilot whales are teuthophagous, feeding almost exclusively on squid, including giant squid. Declines in cephalopod populations caused by changes in water temperature and overfishing likely contributed to the species’ disappearance from the Gulf, similar to what occurred with sperm whales.

Since 2018, only three sightings have been recorded in the region, two within the last six months. Most recently, the Marine Mammal Monitoring Program observed a group of approximately 80 individuals—including males, females, and offspring—moving slowly toward deeper waters, offering hope for the species’ return.

T​he sun breaks over the horizon and illuminates the town of Bahía de Kino, the beaches, and Alcatraz Island. On a bright May morning, the heat rolls in quickly. Normally, the island would be alive with movement and sound: pelican chicks squawking, great blue heron chicks beginning to fly, and yellow-footed gulls dive-bombing intruders while calling loudly to defend their offspring. But this year, the island feels unusually quiet.

By the end of March, researchers counted 91 pelican nests, but within a month only four remained.

This decline reflects the effects of El Niño conditions, which bring warmer ocean temperatures and reduce nutrient-rich upwelling, limiting food availability for seabirds and other marine species. During the 2014–2016 El Niño phase, pelicans did not breed on the island at all.

Activities included locating breeding colonies, carefully capturing individuals, and collecting biological samples such as blood and feces, essential for analyzing their health, diet, and associated microorganisms.