Hood Island
It is the time of the year when we see an awakening of life in the islands. Most of the sea birds are with their new born chicks, and this includes all three species of boobies, the frigates, the gulls and the largest bird in the islands, the albatross. Out of the fourteen species of albatrosses we find on earth, the only one that breeds in the tropics is the Galápagos waved albatross. This bird mates for life, and on Hood the mature couples are now hatching their chicks. New couples are being formed by the young albatrosses that congregate on the seaside cliffs to dance.
The cold Humboldt Current bathes the islands with waters whose surface temperatures are between 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The abundance of plankton in these rich waters allows all the marine species to easily secure food from the sea.
On the beaches, the female sea lions have started to give birth to their pups. It is possible to find the afterbirth in several locations. The Galápagos hawk and the Hood mockingbirds are the “clean up crew”; we see them devouring the placenta.
The damp softness of the “garua”, a local word for the mist that falls on the islands during this time of the year, provides a cool protective cloud. This allows all the animal species to have an easy beginning for their first days of life.
During the last few weeks we have had families and children aboard the Polaris. These are our “Family Departures”. We have enjoyed showing the children and young adults these Enchanted Islands. They show their enthusiasm and admiration for what they see and experience in many ways, and their interest is extremely rewarding to us. We see their big smiles and their shining eyes. Bryanne Ryan, a fourteen year old from Redmond, Washington, uses art to express herself. She is the artist whose painting is in today’s photo.
It is the time of the year when we see an awakening of life in the islands. Most of the sea birds are with their new born chicks, and this includes all three species of boobies, the frigates, the gulls and the largest bird in the islands, the albatross. Out of the fourteen species of albatrosses we find on earth, the only one that breeds in the tropics is the Galápagos waved albatross. This bird mates for life, and on Hood the mature couples are now hatching their chicks. New couples are being formed by the young albatrosses that congregate on the seaside cliffs to dance.
The cold Humboldt Current bathes the islands with waters whose surface temperatures are between 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The abundance of plankton in these rich waters allows all the marine species to easily secure food from the sea.
On the beaches, the female sea lions have started to give birth to their pups. It is possible to find the afterbirth in several locations. The Galápagos hawk and the Hood mockingbirds are the “clean up crew”; we see them devouring the placenta.
The damp softness of the “garua”, a local word for the mist that falls on the islands during this time of the year, provides a cool protective cloud. This allows all the animal species to have an easy beginning for their first days of life.
During the last few weeks we have had families and children aboard the Polaris. These are our “Family Departures”. We have enjoyed showing the children and young adults these Enchanted Islands. They show their enthusiasm and admiration for what they see and experience in many ways, and their interest is extremely rewarding to us. We see their big smiles and their shining eyes. Bryanne Ryan, a fourteen year old from Redmond, Washington, uses art to express herself. She is the artist whose painting is in today’s photo.
