Española Island
This remote and beautiful island is home to many interesting animal and plant species. Some of these species live exclusively here, and are therefore considered to be endemic to Española. This island is also often referred to by its commonest English name, Hood. Española or Hood marine iguanas are very impressive and roam everywhere near the coastline. On Española, these reptiles show a characteristic black and red coloration. Española lava lizards, the largest and most colorful of all the species found in the archipelago, are literally all over the place. Española mockingbirds, with their characteristic long curved beaks, cheerfully follow the groups of visitors. This mockingbird species is the most curious and inquisitive of the four that inhabit the Galapagos Archipelago. To complete the list of the most admired of the Española endemic species, we can also find on the island the majestic waved albatross. This lovely bird weighs 3 to 4 kilos (6 to 9 pounds) and sports a wingspan of over two meters (6 feet), make it by far the largest bird to be found in the Galapagos. Today, the star of the morning’s walk was, without doubt, a very puffy young albatross chick. The chick is only about three months old. Despite its age, it weights at the moment about 3 kilos (6 pounds)! This weight is comparable to the average adult weight! Its big size and comical appearance just enhanced our fascination. The description of a baby albatross is not an easy task anyway. You have to see one to believe it! I will quote a great description that Brian Nelson, a renowned ornithologist, made in 1968. “ For the first four months of its life the chick is hardly more than a great, oil-filled skin, covered in matted brown down. It is grotesque with the fascination of the truly ugly.” This description is quite amusing and reflects what many of us saw today. I personally think they are sweet and cute as can be.
This remote and beautiful island is home to many interesting animal and plant species. Some of these species live exclusively here, and are therefore considered to be endemic to Española. This island is also often referred to by its commonest English name, Hood. Española or Hood marine iguanas are very impressive and roam everywhere near the coastline. On Española, these reptiles show a characteristic black and red coloration. Española lava lizards, the largest and most colorful of all the species found in the archipelago, are literally all over the place. Española mockingbirds, with their characteristic long curved beaks, cheerfully follow the groups of visitors. This mockingbird species is the most curious and inquisitive of the four that inhabit the Galapagos Archipelago. To complete the list of the most admired of the Española endemic species, we can also find on the island the majestic waved albatross. This lovely bird weighs 3 to 4 kilos (6 to 9 pounds) and sports a wingspan of over two meters (6 feet), make it by far the largest bird to be found in the Galapagos. Today, the star of the morning’s walk was, without doubt, a very puffy young albatross chick. The chick is only about three months old. Despite its age, it weights at the moment about 3 kilos (6 pounds)! This weight is comparable to the average adult weight! Its big size and comical appearance just enhanced our fascination. The description of a baby albatross is not an easy task anyway. You have to see one to believe it! I will quote a great description that Brian Nelson, a renowned ornithologist, made in 1968. “ For the first four months of its life the chick is hardly more than a great, oil-filled skin, covered in matted brown down. It is grotesque with the fascination of the truly ugly.” This description is quite amusing and reflects what many of us saw today. I personally think they are sweet and cute as can be.
