Unique Galapagos Birds: A most awesome collection
Many of the wildlife on the islands astound tourists. The penguin is the one that most impresses people, some because of its docile nature, others because of its beauty and curiosity. Finding them surrounded by cacti and mangroves on black lava rock always surprises me. Because they have adapted to exist on the Equator, Galapagos penguins are exceptional in that they can even be found in the small portion of the Galápagos Archipelago that is located in the northern hemisphere.
The only tropical penguin
There is no convoluted answer to explain the presence of unique Galapagos birds on the Galápagos Islands. Their wings brought them… However, even at this, there is a Galapagos puzzle. Sea birds, of course, are to be expected. There’s nothing strange about two species of frigatebirds; no jaw-dropping surprise to see terns, gulls, petrels, albatrosses… three species of boobies, sandpipers chasing the surf, even the spectacle of the tropicbird’s tail…
That’s what ocean birdlife is all about. The land birds, on the other hand, quite a kaleidoscopic bunch indeed, seem almost handpicked by a United Colors of Benetton creative (it would certainly make for a wonderful ad): Pink-eyed dove, stubby-eared owl, slate-blue kingfisher, regal chocolate-brown hawk, sassy bright-scarlet flycatcher, black-and-white mockingbird, rosy-pink flamingo, and vivid yellow warbler. Why not include the blue feet of the booby and a penguin? Imagine this group gathered together in front of a photography studio’s white backdrop.
Unquestionably, one of the must-do activities in the Galapagos Islands is birdwatching. Like all other species, the unique Galapagos Birds are so gregarious that tourists occasionally make friends with a few. Perhaps the most fearless birds are the mockingbirds of Española and the Galapagos Flycatcher, who stand on unwary shoulders or snoop in bags left on the beach without a care.
The general tameness makes for unparalleled experiences anywhere else on Earth, where the wonders of up-close observation of avian courting, breeding, and nesting are top draws. For others, the Blue-footed Booby is the star of the show. Its post-modern wings are perfectly formed into Ws, jiggling around with its bright, azure, webbed feet. One of the most amazing natural events is the beak combat between Waved Albatrosses. The islands are among the most reputable places in the world for birdwatching because of the opportunity to record and take pictures of these rare occurrences, such as the frigatebird’s picture-perfect expanded crimson throat pouch or a heron stalking its prey.
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