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The most astonishing thing about the Galapagos Islands that is not discussed enough is that almost all of the incredible fauna is visible year-round! Galapagos landbirds in the rainy season, for instance, showcase remarkable behaviors and transformations. The distinct species of Galapagos may be courting, mating, building nests, or laying eggs, depending on the time of year you choose to visit. The first rains of the hot season bring remarkable behavioral and color changes for the terrestrial birds of the Galapagos. Some drizzles begin early in December, a transitional month between the dry and hot seasons.
Meanwhile, January is the best time to see many of the iconic land birds of the Galapagos begin to awaken as they spread their majestic wings in favor of the breathtakingly beautiful budding vegetation. This blog invites you to open your eyes wide and take in these Galapagos land birds’ unique characteristics and behavioral patterns while allowing yourself to be carried away by the sound of the first tropical rains drizzling in with the hot season.
Hello Lunchtime: First Rains of the Hot Season!
For survival, almost all land bird species rely on the rainy season, particularly those living in the islands’ desert regions. Rainfall is at the top of the food chain for all living things because life requires water to survive.
There are three distinct patterns of vegetation development when it rains:
- Plants that, when the dry season arrives, go dormant and then begin to grow again.
- Plants that are seasonal die during the rainy season.
- Plants that, when the rainy season returns, resume photosynthesis after stopping it during the dry season and become dark or gray in hue.
During this time of year, as the vegetation in the Galapagos begins to reappear, some land birds and insects that were previously dormant begin to emerge and feed on the blossoming plants’ tender leaves and budding blooms. What is involved in this? The variety of Galapagos bugs scuttling around during this time of year is a feast for both bugs and Galapagos land birds (note: some birds will only feast on the plants). This means that there will be more activity during this time.
The Galapagos Islands’ “ecological system” aims to incentivize birds to procreate only when food is accessible. During the initial period of rainfall, the Galapagos Islands’ thriving flora signals the impending appearance of edible energy sources, which almost instantly causes distinctive behavioral changes in the island’s land birds. These modifications may show up as the following:
- Courtship behavior
- Reproduction
- Foraging
- Raising their young
For land birds of the Galapagos, the height of the reproductive season is when rainfall reaches its highest levels, usually in the middle of the hot season.
What happens to Galapagos Landbirds in the Rainy Season?
Once more, when abundant food is available, there is a solid drive to maximize it by reproducing. Therefore, to attract potential mates, Galapagos land birds expend significant energy on making themselves appear as magnificent and eye-catching as possible.
Moreover, Galapagos land birds will start showcasing their feathers in distinctive ways because, to the females, having lovely feathers and the simple attribute of being “alive” will not suffice. These behavioral clues are necessary for the females to decide whether to respond “yes” to the males’ wooing techniques and displays.
Once more, when abundant food is available, there is a solid drive to maximize it by reproducing. Therefore, to attract potential mates, Galapagos land birds expend significant energy on making themselves appear as magnificent and eye-catching as possible.
Galapagos land birds occasionally exhibit these behaviors by becoming engineers and building fictitious nests for prospective partners, which may be seen as a “test drive” of their suitability as a partner.
Finches
The primary and secondary feathers of Galapagos finches are distinct from one another. Ostentatious or showy feathers replace some of the finches’ most significant feathers during the rainy season. Another characteristic of theirs that varies is the beak, which goes from beige to lustrous black.
Some species, like finches, go all out during the rainy season despite the majority being cryptic or melanistic—an adapted trait in which the animal produces no color to attract partners or frighten predators. The land bird from the Galapagos with the most noticeable physical modifications is likely the finch.
Galapagos Hawks
Polyandrous are the Galapagos hawks. Many men mate with a single female. The female will choose the ideal location or territory when the rains begin. When the first rains of the hot season arrive in the case of these Galapagos land birds, the females will locate the ideal patch of land just before the rainy season starts and call the males to them. This courtship behavior aims to ensure that food will be abundant for their newborn young.
Here’s a list of Galapagos land birds that are predominantly active during the first rains of the hot season in Galapagos:
- Mockingbirds
- Galapagos dove
- Galapagos short-eared owl
- Galapagos barn owl
- Dark-billed cuckoo
- Vermillion fly-catcher
- Galapagos fly-catcher
- Paint-billed crake
- Galapagos rail
- Yellow warbler
- Herons and egrets
- Galapagos Martin
Land birds must move quickly to find a mate and procreate because the rains last around four months. It all boils down to the excess food that the rains produce. This also explains why land birds have more difficulty reproducing during rare weather conditions like La Niña when there is less rain. Because only the strongest and best will be allowed to procreate, the species’ gene pool will continue to grow. Conversely, during El Niño, when precipitation can persist for up to eight months, an abundance of food might lead to promiscuity. For instance, scientists have discovered one of the rare instances of spontaneous hybridization in the finch!
Experience firsthand what transpires during this remarkable time in Galapagos on the Santa Cruz II Galapagos voyage!
