Española Island
Every time I step onto one of the Galápagos Islands, I am surprised by the splendor and peacefulness one can both see and experience. A new month has begun and I feel, once more, as if today was the beginning of life on earth.
This morning on Española we walked among innocent creatures that ignored, and sometimes, even enjoyed our presence. Love was in the air, love was underwater. We heard love songs all over. Male boobies were performing their famous “sky pointing” to attract blue-footed females. Male finches were also talking about love, while flying from tree to tree. At the beach, male sea lions had a few quarrels over territories, and a pair of Galápagos hawks flew over our heads. The albatrosses were also courting, and we found the first albatross egg of the season. The island of Española was a very busy place this morning. Critters were performing their everyday duties, while ignoring our presence.
Underwater we had the same feeling. Busy fish, courting sergeant majors, fast moving trigger fish, huge puffers. The list of new species went on forever. However names are of little importance in these cases. Knowing or not knowing a name didn’t really affect our enjoyment. We are in the Galápagos, and beauty is all around. We are also part of that beauty; we humans visiting a well protected National Park full of fearless creatures.
Every time I step onto one of the Galápagos Islands, I am surprised by the splendor and peacefulness one can both see and experience. A new month has begun and I feel, once more, as if today was the beginning of life on earth.
This morning on Española we walked among innocent creatures that ignored, and sometimes, even enjoyed our presence. Love was in the air, love was underwater. We heard love songs all over. Male boobies were performing their famous “sky pointing” to attract blue-footed females. Male finches were also talking about love, while flying from tree to tree. At the beach, male sea lions had a few quarrels over territories, and a pair of Galápagos hawks flew over our heads. The albatrosses were also courting, and we found the first albatross egg of the season. The island of Española was a very busy place this morning. Critters were performing their everyday duties, while ignoring our presence.
Underwater we had the same feeling. Busy fish, courting sergeant majors, fast moving trigger fish, huge puffers. The list of new species went on forever. However names are of little importance in these cases. Knowing or not knowing a name didn’t really affect our enjoyment. We are in the Galápagos, and beauty is all around. We are also part of that beauty; we humans visiting a well protected National Park full of fearless creatures.
