Genovesa Island
As the sun rose, Polaris entered the deep and submerged caldera of Genovesa Island and our Captain dropped the anchor when we were quite close to the layered cliffs, finally in sufficiently shallow waters. Following a hearty breakfast, we disembarked on a tiny and lovely, white coral beach where dozens of sea birds of several species were nesting. Fluffy frigate chicks, some snuggled under their parent’s breast and others now old enough to be left on their own, squatted on sloppy twig nest platforms waiting to be fed. Catching enough fish to satisfy the ever-increasing hunger of these fat and demanding chicks is a job for both parents, and so almost all species of sea birds raise their young in pairs.
The red-footed boobies were also in the midst of their breeding season. Some males were perched on the mangrove shrubs calling to potential mates and displaying enthusiastically from their potential nest sites. Other pairs, already committed to a joint effort for at least the coming few months, were gathering sticks and arranging them into nests. Many of the red-foots were already incubating their single egg. As red-footed boobies feed in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Archipelago, and hence must travel several miles to their fishing grounds, they can only raise a solitary chick. We spotted boobies of both the common brown and the rarer white morpho-types and admired their brilliant red webbed feet. Seeing webbed feet wrapped around the branches of trees and shrubs (see today’s photo) is rather odd since thus far the two other species of boobies we have seen, the blue-foots and Nazca boobies, were both ground nesters. But, by utilizing different nesting strategies, the three booby species reduce chances of competition.
In addition to watching and photographing the numerous nesting seabirds, in the late morning, we snorkeled and swam in deliciously warmer waters. In the afternoon we chose between a panga ride along the base of the cliffs (our highlight was a 10 foot manta ray!) or a hike up rough lava steps and a stroll through a barren forest of palo santo trees. The trail led out to a broken brown lava field where storm petrels flitted around the openings to the lava tubes in which they nest. We were delighted to find three short-eared owls not far from the path. Spotting them is no easy feat as they are almost the same color as the lava rocks and sit very still, hoping to catch a petrel unaware and make a meal of it. What a privilege it is for us to walk among so many wild creatures and have them ignore us, quietly going about their lives.
As the sun rose, Polaris entered the deep and submerged caldera of Genovesa Island and our Captain dropped the anchor when we were quite close to the layered cliffs, finally in sufficiently shallow waters. Following a hearty breakfast, we disembarked on a tiny and lovely, white coral beach where dozens of sea birds of several species were nesting. Fluffy frigate chicks, some snuggled under their parent’s breast and others now old enough to be left on their own, squatted on sloppy twig nest platforms waiting to be fed. Catching enough fish to satisfy the ever-increasing hunger of these fat and demanding chicks is a job for both parents, and so almost all species of sea birds raise their young in pairs.
The red-footed boobies were also in the midst of their breeding season. Some males were perched on the mangrove shrubs calling to potential mates and displaying enthusiastically from their potential nest sites. Other pairs, already committed to a joint effort for at least the coming few months, were gathering sticks and arranging them into nests. Many of the red-foots were already incubating their single egg. As red-footed boobies feed in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Archipelago, and hence must travel several miles to their fishing grounds, they can only raise a solitary chick. We spotted boobies of both the common brown and the rarer white morpho-types and admired their brilliant red webbed feet. Seeing webbed feet wrapped around the branches of trees and shrubs (see today’s photo) is rather odd since thus far the two other species of boobies we have seen, the blue-foots and Nazca boobies, were both ground nesters. But, by utilizing different nesting strategies, the three booby species reduce chances of competition.
In addition to watching and photographing the numerous nesting seabirds, in the late morning, we snorkeled and swam in deliciously warmer waters. In the afternoon we chose between a panga ride along the base of the cliffs (our highlight was a 10 foot manta ray!) or a hike up rough lava steps and a stroll through a barren forest of palo santo trees. The trail led out to a broken brown lava field where storm petrels flitted around the openings to the lava tubes in which they nest. We were delighted to find three short-eared owls not far from the path. Spotting them is no easy feat as they are almost the same color as the lava rocks and sit very still, hoping to catch a petrel unaware and make a meal of it. What a privilege it is for us to walk among so many wild creatures and have them ignore us, quietly going about their lives.
