A culminating achievement of Héctor’s 17 seasons coordinating and developing the Center’s Marine Mammal Program was the publication of an important article describing the use of the Midriff Island Region by the Gulf’s resident fin whale population in January.

Like much of the Center’s work, this publication embodies a multi-generational collaboration which involved Dra. Gisela Heckel; Héctor, who trained under her decades ago; and Joel A. Arredondo-Sáinz (lead author), Gisela’s student who partnered with Héctor and the Center to transform our long-term data into both a master’s thesis and this article.

In January, Andy was one of 20 artists profiled at “Salvemos Nuestros Mares,” an art exhibit organized by environmental art collective Seres Extraños for the purpose of connecting the public with the riches of this bioregion and raising awareness about some of the threats faced by regional ecological and human communities.

Andy used a multi-media technique to create educational posters consisting of nature-inspired patterns and stylized representations of local fauna.

The Waterbird Monitoring Program coordinators are spreading their wings! In January, the University of Sonora published a book titled “Aves Acuáticas de Bahía de Kino,” with Lauren Dolinski and long-time collaborator Dr. Ramón Barraza as two of the co-authors. This publication makes the natural history and diversity of waterbirds in this region visible and accessible to a broader public.

Now in his seventh season at the Center, Jaime is expanding his creative horizons through writing, film, and theater. Selected alongside 16 coastal community members to participate in the 2026 “VIVERO” documentary filmmaking course—offered through three intensive field sessions—Jaime is developing a soundscape piece inspired by Isla Alcatraz. He is also continuing his acting pursuits, performing as a charismatic crab in a short play written and directed by local high school student Miguel Moreno.