Just off the beach in front of the Sonoran Sea and Sonoran Spa Resort Condominiums it is common to see dolphins frolicking and jumping above the surface of the Sea of Cortez almost year around.  They are such fun to watch and the opportunity to see them, though frequent, never gets old.

The photos in this article were taken by Sonoran Spa resident, Tony Ballesteros, as he followed on foot a small pod along the beach.  An avid photographer, Tony followed them until he was waste deep in water, then flagged down and convinced a passing jet skier to take him further so he could continue capturing these great shots!

1. Dolphin sense of smell and vision

Dolphins have no olfactory glands and therefore no sense of smell. They do however count on their fantastic ability to see both under and above the water surface.

2. Dolphin and its brain

Dolphin brains have two sides. Even when asleep one side of the Dolphin’s brain remains active to protect them from predators as well as allowing them to swim and breath.

3. Dolphin sounds

One of the most well known Dolphin attributes is that they can communicate with each other—and with humans—by creating voice-like sounds, or a mixture of pulses, clicks and whistles.

4. Dolphin sense of hearing

Dolphins have a remarkable sense of hearing which is enhanced even further by an “echolocation” capability which allows them to determine the precise location of objects and make them great hunters.

5. Dolphins diet

Dolphins love most any kind of fish and squid. They will work together in pods of up to a 1,000 to hunt down and corral schools of fish using several ingenious methods to trap them for efficient consumption.

6. Dolphin species

The dolphin is highly regarded as a friendly, cute and cuddly mammal with which people love to interact and play. Keep in mind that the Pilot and Killer Whale (Orca) are also among the 17 species of the dolphin family!

7. Dolphin intelligence

The dolphin is one of the most interesting creatures in the world, probably because of its intelligence. They are extremely smart hunters. They maintain an immense capacity for learning and patience for accepting instructions made even more remarkable by their ability to communicate with humans.

Finally, worth pondering is the fact that many marine scientists who have extensively researched Dolphin behavior have proposed
that, due to their unusually high intelligence compared to other animals, they should be considered as non-human persons and should have their own specific rights, and that it is morally unacceptable to keep them captive for entertainment purposes, or to kill them; either intentionally for consumption or as by-catch. (Ref. ^ Jonathan Leake and Helen Brooks forThe Sunday Times (2010), Scientists say dolphins should be treated as ‘non-human persons’; from Wikipedia: Dolphins)

8. Dolphins ability to swim

Dolphins can swim at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour and dive to depths of up to 300 meters.

9. Dolphin predators

Other than humans, dolphins have few predators. Many species have no predators, making them Apex Predators. Larger sharks, like the Tiger and Great White will prey on the smaller species, especially young dolphins (calves). Due to their intelligence and evasive skills, dolphins usually escape being the main course, though many times they are left with deep wounds from the ordeal.  Fortunately, dolphins have an amazing ability to heal from even the deepest wounds.

Dolphins also seem to be susceptible to a wide variety of diseases and parasites which are communicable among species.

By far, their biggest predator danger is from irresponsible human activities such as the indiscriminate dumping of pesticides and plastics; use of drift and gill nets and other harmful fishing methods. Also damaging to dolphins are the loud noises of offshore construction projects, live military firing exercises and naval sonar which damage their sensitive hearing and cause decompression sickness from being forced to surface too quickly to escape the noise.

Even though you can sight dolphins from your balcony at any of the Sonoran Beach Front Resorts, the further out to sea you go, the more Dolphins you will see. Just take a fishing excursion on a charter boat like the popular Pancho Villa Charter and you’re not only  likely to catch a  fish the size of your youngest child, but you will definitely see Dolphins, sometimes in pods of hundreds!

Source: Sonoran Resorts

By: Victor Salazar

ROCKY POINT, SONORA.

In order to contribute to compliance and health measures to prevent and correct the overweight and obesity among children, the Ministry of Education and Culture (SEC in spanish) will launch a program called “National Agreement for health food”, which looks forward to educate every student, teacher and parents about good eating habits revealed Gustavo Pérez Muñoz.

The delegate from the SEC in Rocky Point, revealed that this health problem  is affecting millions of children all over the country, and Rocky Point is no exception, as specialists have found the presence of lack of food education in schools and in children´s home.

“Specialists have detected the presence of obesity is mainly derived from the consumption of food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt, this added to it’s becoming more common to having a passive lifestyle and the lack of excercise, without exercising  becomes a sedentary life and then comes obesity”, he said.

Pérez Muñoz said that in this situation, the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) and the Office of Health (OH) gave out to SEC, specific amounts of food and along with that, came the incorporation of food guidance topics, physical activities, and water consumption, which will be out both in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, which are ideal places for children to learn to stay healthy.

“To combat the problems from schools such as overweight and obesity, requireseverybody´s participation, we are talking about teachers, principals, supervisors, heads of industry, support staff, students and civil society permanently, but most of all, we need supported by the same parents”, he added.

The delegate of the SEC’s regional services, pointed out that although at present, has not been set at 100% the sale of food unfit for children in all inside the school mini stores in Mexico, Sonora and Rocky Point, SEC and the OH plan launch a program for more regulation to the sale of unhealthy food in thee mini stores.

By: Victor Salazar

ROCKY POINT, SONORA.

Although in the past, drugs and forbidden substances that were consumed before the young people turn 18, were alcohol and cigarettes, things have changed dramatically in our times, because nowadays marijuana and controlled pills take control over addiction in adolescents, and this is now a scary scenario for authorities Arely Peralta said Zurita.

The Director for Addiction Control Center (CAA in spanish) said that for the city of Rocky Point, most cases are handled in the CAA, and so, these are cases from a matter of emotional vulnerability, vulnerability to groups and not necessarily the use or abuse of any substance whatsoever, although the use of illegal substances takes more strength each day to local schools and high school level, she sadly said.

“Generally we consider a statistic that tells us that the addictions begin with alcohol and cigarretes, and it stands to come other addictions such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine, and these information is truly shocking, although we have seen that in our community, drugs are not necessarily a consecuence of alcohol consumption and smoking, as there are younger people that use their first substance such as marijuana, and we have not seen this happening, never before, and likewise we have detected the pills are taking more power than ever over young people from ages from 12 to 18, pills like benzodiazepines and even cases where alcohol and benzodiazepines are mixed, which is not what the statistics tell us, but they are strong information and this is the real data”, she acknowledged.

“Young people suffer Rocky Point over lack of emotional, family problems, failure of communication with their parents or friends, but right now most of our patients, are at the early stage rather than prevention, counseling, brief intervention and we call actually are some young people who are in programs and / or treatment for any additions”, she said.

In what was the month of February, in charge of the CAA, said there are 16 cases of brief interventions and 15 more in treatment for an addiction, and in March were 16 and 19 brief intervention and treatment with a substance use prohibited, bonded two cases: alcohol and marijuana.

Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Rodrigo Munro accompanied by Rubén Gracia General Coordinator of Civil Protection in the State as well as Rubén Martínez Salido inaugurated the new office remodeling Fire Station Cmte Alfonso Sanchez Miranda ¨ ¨. In the presence of the elements of fire and then the Board meeting that makes up this instance, the Mayor performed the ribbon-cutting marked the beginning of operations of the renovated facilities. Zepeda Munro thanked the Board members, congratulating the ¨ · Who Smoke swallows are always there to safeguard the integrity of Puertopeñasquenses as it was during this Holy Week which together with the various agencies were able to white balance. ° This is being done is for the Fire Department but also for all the people of Puerto Peñasco I want to congratulate you all for your work and for always being there when you need them citizenship ¨, he said. On behalf of the Governor Guillermo Padres Elias, Ruben Rodrigo Gracia extended a big congratulations to all who make up the Fire Department for their work and make good use of resources which demonstrates the interest that has to work in benefit of Puerto Peñasco. Highlighted the work that has been been doing together, adding how important it is working in coordination with ability and enthusiasm by the public. The Head of the Municipal Civil Protection, Ruben Salinas welcomed those attending this significant event, which highlighted the work done so far is Puerto Peñasco for this department has an office development worthy of work. He thanked the efforts and the support from the Mayor who is always attentive and was able to listen to suggestions and needs that this unit has. He called on all his staff to continue their efforts by inviting them to put twice as dedication and commitment to continue watching and caring for all who live in our city. The event was also attended by the Secretary José Ramón Campos Santos, Trustee Attorney Noe Bañaga Farías, Fernando Andrés Sosa Day Sector Naval Admiral Luis López López Regidor, etc.

Hundreds of families of residents and visitors gathered at the waterfront plaza governors to witness the staging of the Passion of Christ from day 12 on Friday 22 April.

The pastor of the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Luis, stressed the importance of such celebrations because, he said, is a way to retrieve the values ​​and stay close to God.

“Our society aims to banish God and it is through such acts as we can recover and restore human values​​”

  An operation described as historic performed the Executive Secretariat of Public Security (SESP) in this holiday period by deploying three helicopters and hundreds of patrols to monitor air and sea beaches and tourist points of Sonora.
Ernesto Munro Palacio, Executive Secretary of Public Safety, arrived Wednesday at Puerto Penasco for overseeing the Special Operations involving 350 elements of the State Police Public Safety (PESP), distributed in strategic points of the state.
“For the first time in history, ” he said, “we will have three aircraft to monitor the tourist sites and beaches of the state, from Puerto Penasco to Desemboque, Miramar San Carlos and Las Bocas Huatabampito, among other things. ”
He stressed that this is the first mission fully equipped helicopter for surveillance and rescue which recently acquired the Secretariat office.
On his arrival in Puerto Penasco, the owner of the SESP was received by the Mayor, Alejandro Zepeda Munro, Director of Municipal Public Security, Lázaro Hernández Bravo, magistrates and officials, and the Director of Public Safety State Police, Alonso Ulises Gómez Méndez-Manuell.
Munro Palacio said that in Puerto Penasco with the participation of 15 patrol and 55 elements of the PESP, who will coordinate with other corporations of the three levels of government.
He noted that the main objective of Special Operations is to protect the integrity of tourists and residents of Sonora during these Easter holidays for a white balance.
Finally, he asked the tourists to Sonora and extreme caution when taking the highway, using seat belts and not combine alcohol with the steering wheel.

The town, Civil and Military Authorities paid emotional tribute in memory of the Heroes in homeland defense that struggled against the invasion of American naval forces on April 21, 1914 invaded the port of Veracruz.

The warm sunlight of this morning 21 April, the town of Puerto Peñasco, civil authorities and the army of Mexico Rocky sector, paid emotional tribute to the memory of the heroes of the fatherland, who on a fateful day but makes 96 years in the port of Veracruz, the people, the cadets and officers from the military academy established there defended heroically with the delivery of their precious lives for the invasion of pride conquering American naval force invaded for no reason and waters native land

Puerto Peñasco will again host the event Nuestra Belleza Sonora 2011 to be held this coming June 11 in the resort Las Palomas Mayor Alejandro Zepeda said Munro with his wife Marcela Albelaiz and the Director of Televisa Hermosillo Ruben Lucero.

In the presence of Nuestra Belleza Sonora 2010 Ericka Bernal, the mayor stressed that this great event will allow our city to project a national level to be seen by a potential market of more than 30 million viewers in different states of Mexico.

He appreciated the good dispocision Televisa Hermosillo company for work done in conjunction with municipal authorities to Peñasco is the protagonist of this event that highlights the beauty of the Sonoran woman that is made to benefit the Municipal DIF.

Ruben Lucero outside this contest is regarded as the best state-level competition from around the country and with the live broadcast will be a great enhancement to this tourist destination thus highlighting the attractions of mind, being projected in entities such as Baja California, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and this year joins the Bajio region highlighted Leon and Aguascalientes.

He extended the invitation to all citizens and the general public to come and enjoy the competition adding to this gala night for the second straight will be developed in this paradiasico place adorned by the beauty of its participants.

He said that will work in coordination with municipal authorities that the event managed to get the best of success as it was last year to the delight of all spectators.

In turn Ericka Bernal spoke about the great taste and satisfaction that is for her to wear the crown for a year to represent their state and appealed to all youth interested in participating in this contest to cheer and do not let it seem their dreams and goals.

He added that the event allowed him to gain confidence in itself also represents a great pride to be the bearer of this appointment and be able to become part of the final representation of Sonora.

During the press conference was also attended by Secretary José Ramón Campos Santos, Noe Bañaga Trustee Attorney, Armando Portugal Amavizca, Fausto Soto International Relations and Hector Vazquez of the OCV, etc