Genovesa Island
As soon as we disembarked, we were captivated by a red spot on the bushes of Genovesa Island. From far away it looked like a balloon, but getting closer we discovered it was a great frigate bird with a perfectly inflated gular pouch sitting on the salt bushes of the landing area, hoping to impress any of the lady frigates passing by. We saw him trying for at least thirty minutes. Most of the frigates have their nests ready by now, and are caring for their little chicks, but this male, a bit late in the season, was optimistically still trying. We left him behind, his wings opened, his impressive “turkey-like” call reverberating in the atmosphere, and his head moving from side to side. The group wanted to see red-footed boobies, and we took pleasure in observing them within the red mangroves, building nests and taking care of fluffy chicks. Nazca boobies walked around together with a few swallow-tailed gulls. When we had practically forgotten about this confident male frigate, we heard a noise; we perceived the excitement and the rattle of another frigate’s wings flapping in the distance. A female had landed, and now it was next to the hopeful male accepting all the flirting and listening to his love songs. Perseverance is sometimes the key to success!
As soon as we disembarked, we were captivated by a red spot on the bushes of Genovesa Island. From far away it looked like a balloon, but getting closer we discovered it was a great frigate bird with a perfectly inflated gular pouch sitting on the salt bushes of the landing area, hoping to impress any of the lady frigates passing by. We saw him trying for at least thirty minutes. Most of the frigates have their nests ready by now, and are caring for their little chicks, but this male, a bit late in the season, was optimistically still trying. We left him behind, his wings opened, his impressive “turkey-like” call reverberating in the atmosphere, and his head moving from side to side. The group wanted to see red-footed boobies, and we took pleasure in observing them within the red mangroves, building nests and taking care of fluffy chicks. Nazca boobies walked around together with a few swallow-tailed gulls. When we had practically forgotten about this confident male frigate, we heard a noise; we perceived the excitement and the rattle of another frigate’s wings flapping in the distance. A female had landed, and now it was next to the hopeful male accepting all the flirting and listening to his love songs. Perseverance is sometimes the key to success!
