Discovering Owls in the Galapagos: Nature’s Rare Predators
The Galapagos would be a haven for carnivores, with lizards lounging along walkways and birds laying their eggs in the open with impunity. However, guests are frequently shocked to learn that the number of predators in the archipelago is relatively small and that no terrestrial carnivore has ever made it to the Galapagos by natural means. This is primarily due to the islands’ isolation, with at least 600 miles of ocean separating them from other landmass. Nevertheless, three actual birds of prey have made it to the Galapagos Islands.
Owls in the Galapagos Adapting to life
Many visitors to the archipelago are sometimes surprised to learn that owls reside there because rodents like the chipmunk and guinea pigs of North America and South America are virtually nonexistent there. The rice rat is the only rodent species that has reached the islands on its own, and even it has seen the worst destruction of any mammal found in the Galapagos. As a result, to survive in the Galapagos, owls have had to change how they eat.
Now, in addition to rodents, they also consume birds and lava lizards. Though this is not the only characteristic that sets them apart from other owls, owls do not always only eat rodents—the Galapagos short-eared owl, for instance, has adapted to its environment by often hunting during the day, avoiding competition with the Galapagos hawk. It can also hunt birds that are much larger than themselves, like booby birds. The short-eared owl is more frequent on Genovesa Island.
An much bigger obstacle awaits the other species of owl found in the Galapagos, the barn owl. Barn owls are usually found in or near human-inhabited regions, particularly in old barns or abandoned buildings. Its perfect home can be difficult to identify, though, as humans only make up 3% of the Galapagos Archipelago. Instead, it frequently nests and roosts on the ledges of collapsed lava tunnels. There are just a few hundred barn owls in the Galapagos, and although they are still observable on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands, they were recently declared extinct on Fernandina Island as a result of imported animal predation. Seeing in the darkness
The most striking aspect of an owl is its huge eyes that appear to peer down from its perch with unworldly wisdom. For thousands of years, owls have been a part of human mythology. Their eyes, which comprise as much as 5% of their body weight, have undoubtedly contributed to their significance in our stories. Due to their exceptional vision, owls can hunt small animals day and night.
As an owl’s eyes are front looking, they view around 70 degrees of their 110 degrees of vision with both eyes, providing them binocular vision and thus allowing them to judge objects in three dimensions: height, width, and depth. But Galapagos owls know a few additional tricks that we humans do not, the most well-known of which is that they can turn their heads in an apparent 360-degree rotation. Despite this, they are much more mobile than humans, with an impressive 270 degrees of range. Their exceptional night vision and farsightedness further amplify this ability.
The owl’s remarkable vision is primarily due to its unusual eye structure, which differs significantly from human eyes. Owls possess what could be called an “eye tube,” made up of rod-shaped cells attached to their skull by bony sclerotic rings. These rod cells are susceptible to light and movement, allowing them to see and hunt at night. Despite this remarkable gift, many people mistakenly believe that owls cannot see in bright sunlight, but just like humans, their pupils can rapidly adjust to determine how much light will strike the retina. Galapagos cruise Santa Cruz II itineraries with potential encounters with owls!
