Genovesa Island
Located in the northernmost part of the archipelago and quite distant from any of the central islands, this particular place is extremely interesting; isolation has been the key here for seabirds and they are within the most numerous inhabitants of the place. The early morning light gives us a very good opportunity to see the walls of the crater that collapsed a few million years ago.
This place has a special kind of atmosphere. Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and the colorful red-footed boobies, together with the contrasting landscape, make it one of the most interesting sites to be explored in the archipelago.
The island’s lava plateaus have been conquered by Palo Santo trees on this side of the island, and are the nesting territory for more boobies. As we head for a walk in the open area we find ourselves surrounded again by lava flows which are the territory of thousands of storm petrels that are covering the sky – at a first glimpse they look like those clouds of mosquitos that are normally found in jungle areas. It is incredible to see how much activity can be found in this remote place. As the petrels come here to nest, their predator – the short-eared owl – quietly waits for them on the open fields, looking for the perfect time to attack.
Due to the rain this year it seems like life on this island is not as difficult as it is most of the time. Seabirds seem to notice the difference and the place itself looks very lush, especially comparing it with some drought years, which make the struggle for survival a lot more intense.
The white coralline beach and the red mangroves are the nesting places for red-footed boobies. Minor frigatebird males are beginning with the mating ritual again; a few bachelors are displaying their half-inflated pouches to females who don’t seem to be particularly interested in them yet!
The images of today will remain in our minds for the rest of our lives; what a special way to end our expedition around this enchanted archipelago. We know now that these particular islands will never leave us…
