Genovesa Island
Bird Island is the other name for Genovesa, or Tower Island and it is home to a million sea birds! This morning we awoke to find the Polaris swinging peacefully at anchor in the flooded caldera of Darwin Bay. We disembarked on a tiny, white, coral sand beach and strolled through the nesting grounds of greater frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and Nazca and red-footed boobies. The weather went from misty and grey to brilliant sunshine and blue skies in a few hours time. Some of us swam off the beach and others snorkeled along the base of the cliffs. A handful of guests stayed on the beach and were entertained by a noisy male sea lion that sprawled beside a group of females and juveniles. Curious juvenile red-footed boobies who flew just above the Zodiac escorted us back to the ship.
The hike up Prince Phillip’s Steps and out onto a lava plains, where countless boobies, frigates and storm petrels nest, was lovely in the golden afternoon light. The Nazca booby chicks are several weeks old and already molting their down in favor of flight feathers. Red footed booby chicks of all sizes perched on sloppy twig nests waiting for their parents to return to feed them. The juvenile red foot in today’s photo appeared to be as interested in us as we were in it. The frigatebird breeding season is approaching and already some of the males have red gular pouches although they are not yet fully inflated.
On an optional panga ride with Naturalist Carmen Guzman, we had a spectacular view of a school of graceful golden rays. Red-billed tropicbirds wheeled overhead and circled in front of the cliffs where they roost and nest. This week’s voyage has been amazing. We have had good luck with the weather, the animal sightings, and our diverse and wonderful experiences. Tomorrow is the last day of this trip and the final day of my month in these Enchanted Islands. We will all leave reluctantly, but confident in our hearts that through our efforts and the efforts of many countries, organizations and individuals around the world, these exceptional islands will be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations.
Bird Island is the other name for Genovesa, or Tower Island and it is home to a million sea birds! This morning we awoke to find the Polaris swinging peacefully at anchor in the flooded caldera of Darwin Bay. We disembarked on a tiny, white, coral sand beach and strolled through the nesting grounds of greater frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and Nazca and red-footed boobies. The weather went from misty and grey to brilliant sunshine and blue skies in a few hours time. Some of us swam off the beach and others snorkeled along the base of the cliffs. A handful of guests stayed on the beach and were entertained by a noisy male sea lion that sprawled beside a group of females and juveniles. Curious juvenile red-footed boobies who flew just above the Zodiac escorted us back to the ship.
The hike up Prince Phillip’s Steps and out onto a lava plains, where countless boobies, frigates and storm petrels nest, was lovely in the golden afternoon light. The Nazca booby chicks are several weeks old and already molting their down in favor of flight feathers. Red footed booby chicks of all sizes perched on sloppy twig nests waiting for their parents to return to feed them. The juvenile red foot in today’s photo appeared to be as interested in us as we were in it. The frigatebird breeding season is approaching and already some of the males have red gular pouches although they are not yet fully inflated.
On an optional panga ride with Naturalist Carmen Guzman, we had a spectacular view of a school of graceful golden rays. Red-billed tropicbirds wheeled overhead and circled in front of the cliffs where they roost and nest. This week’s voyage has been amazing. We have had good luck with the weather, the animal sightings, and our diverse and wonderful experiences. Tomorrow is the last day of this trip and the final day of my month in these Enchanted Islands. We will all leave reluctantly, but confident in our hearts that through our efforts and the efforts of many countries, organizations and individuals around the world, these exceptional islands will be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations.
