Galapagos Photo Page 1

The Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique flora and fauna.  I  have arranged the pictures in accordance with their general grouping, such a sea birds, amphibians, etc.  They are not in the order in which I saw or photographed  them.

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Galapagos Penguin
The Galapagos Penguin is one of the smallest penguins in the world and the only one to breed entirely within the tropics as well as the only one north of the equator.

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Just to give an idea for the profusion of bird life we encountered.
Literally wall-to-wall birds.
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The Waved Albatross is the largest bird that breeds in the Galapagos. It’s wingspan can exceed 7 feet  (2.35 meters)

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They stand nearly 3 feet high (90 cm

)

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Although generally peaceful, they can get a bit pissy
 if they feel another bird is invading their territory
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Although usually found on the ground, occasionally they will be found on rock ledges.
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What at first glance appears to the a cemetery with headstones is actually an albatross nursery.
They do not prepare nests.  They simply lay an egg on the ground and then proceed to hatch it.

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An albatross egg is roughly the size of the beer can.  Usually only one egg is laid, however on occasion two may be produced.
Both are incubated but on hatching the stronger of the chicks will push the weaker out of the nesting area and it will succumb.
Survival of the fittest.
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Settling down to Mom duties, or maybe Daddy duties.  The egg is incubated by both the male and female parent.
After it hatches, the chick is fed by both parents.

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File Photo
Obviously from the photos, the eggs had not yet hatched, but this is what an albatross chick looks like.

The Galapagos Shearwater is a fast flier.
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These two Shear water were flying over our heads, around a rock outcropping and back again for what seamed like hours. 

It is easy to see where aircraft manufacturers came up with the idea of curved wing tips.

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Trying to get a closeup photo was  challenging.  They fly at 33 MPH but it seamed like 70 when trying to focus and snap.
The Red Billed Tropicalbird
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The Tropicbird nests in crevices in rock walls and feeds on fish and other sea life.

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file photo
Frigatebirds routinely attack tropic birds after they have caught a fish.
The frigate will grab the tropicbird’s tail feathers and shake it, causing the tropicbird to disgorge the fish 
The frigate catch the fish in midair or on the water surface and eat it.  I saw this happen but was too far away to get a photo.
More on this pirating frigatebird later.
Brown Pelican

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The Brown Pelican is an endemic subspecies found only in the Galapagos. Up to 45 In long with a wing span of 90 inches,
this large bird is an expert fisher.  Sitting on a ledge over the water or lazily flying it spots a fish, folds its wings and dives. 
Just before it hits the water it opens its beak and then strains out seawater from its catch.
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Ready

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Okay, Back to step one

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