Genovesa Island
What an island! Over a million birds, and it seemed as if most of them were cruising the sky overhead when we landed. However, as soon as we arrived on shore we saw that many were in the trees, bushes and even standing or sitting on the coralline beach, watching over eggs or chicks. To our amazement, before the last Zodiac even reached the landing we received a message over the radio that a frigatebird was laying an egg at that very moment! It happened too fast for most to catch the sight, but what an experience for those that did! What this means for us, the natural history staff, is that we now have the exact time of laying for this little individual, born at 9:00 a.m. on July 7th, 2005. We will be able to follow its development for the next few months (if not year) as long as all goes well.
Right next door was another unusual situation: a female frigate with two chicks of the same age (estimated around a month old). Frigates rarely lay more than one egg, so this is the first time I personally have seen this. Yet another drama to watch unfold this year.
Snorkeling was wonderful, in calm waters both off the beach and along the bluff across the way. Bumphead parrotfish, fur seals and sea lions were spotted, as well as many smaller inhabitants of the rocky undersea world of Galápagos.
The afternoon ended up equally successful as two short eared owls were seen patrolling the storm petrel colony. Nazca boobies in cacophonous chorus were the over-riding sound of Prince Philip’s Steps, and the strong, musky smell of petrels dominated our olfactory senses along the outer coast.
What an island! Over a million birds, and it seemed as if most of them were cruising the sky overhead when we landed. However, as soon as we arrived on shore we saw that many were in the trees, bushes and even standing or sitting on the coralline beach, watching over eggs or chicks. To our amazement, before the last Zodiac even reached the landing we received a message over the radio that a frigatebird was laying an egg at that very moment! It happened too fast for most to catch the sight, but what an experience for those that did! What this means for us, the natural history staff, is that we now have the exact time of laying for this little individual, born at 9:00 a.m. on July 7th, 2005. We will be able to follow its development for the next few months (if not year) as long as all goes well.
Right next door was another unusual situation: a female frigate with two chicks of the same age (estimated around a month old). Frigates rarely lay more than one egg, so this is the first time I personally have seen this. Yet another drama to watch unfold this year.
Snorkeling was wonderful, in calm waters both off the beach and along the bluff across the way. Bumphead parrotfish, fur seals and sea lions were spotted, as well as many smaller inhabitants of the rocky undersea world of Galápagos.
The afternoon ended up equally successful as two short eared owls were seen patrolling the storm petrel colony. Nazca boobies in cacophonous chorus were the over-riding sound of Prince Philip’s Steps, and the strong, musky smell of petrels dominated our olfactory senses along the outer coast.
