GALAPAGOS SEABIRDS
The Galapagos Islands are a mecca for tropical seabirds, of which there are 19 breeding species - 7 of these are endemic. Seabirds are always evident as you cruise between the islands, including:
- boobies
- cormorants
- pelicans
- frigatebirds
- tropicbirds
- albatrosses
- shearwaters
- gulls
- penguins
Some of these species are found on many islands, others have tiny populations and are confined to certain parts of a single island. Each species has evolved its own behaviour patterns related to feeding and breeding, and in any month you will find some seabirds displaying, incubating eggs or feeding their young.
The endemic seabirds are:
Galapagos penguin (Fernandina and Isabela Islands, population highly variable depending on El Nino events);
Waved albatross (Espanola Island, about 12,000 pairs);
Flightless cormorant (Fernandina and Isabela, 700 - 900 pairs);
Swallow-tailed gull (widespread, 10,000 - 15,000 pairs);
Lava or dusky gull (6 islands, only 300 - 400 pairs remaining);
Nazca booby;
Galapagos Shearwater.
The boobies are all well represented by (in order of abundance): Red-footed, Nazca and Blue-footed species - three of the Earth's six species of boobies. The name "booby" is derived from the Spanish word "bobo" meaning clown, after which they are named because of their strange ways and colourful attributes. Only the Nazca booby is endemic to Galapagos. Boobies range from 25-36 inches in length, with a wingspan of 3-5 feet. All nest close to the ocean, and even close to each other.
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There are 29 species of cormorants that live throughout the world, but the flightless cormorant (Compsohalieus [Nannopterum] harrisi) can only be found in the Galapagos Islands and is the only one that cannot fly. They are also the heaviest members of the cormorant family, and are specialist feeders of octopus.
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Of the two species of frigatebirds (magnificient and great), the former (about 1000 pairs) has a world distribution restricted largely to Central America and the Carribean, while the latter is pan-tropical. Frigatebirds can breed successfully only once in two years because they take more than a year to rear their single chick to independence. Additionally, the experienced breeders take long recuperative periods, which means that their breeding frequency is amongst the lowest of any seabird. The communal courtship of frigatebirds involves the males inflating their scarlet gular sacs, spreading and swivelling their huge wings, and vocalising towards overflying females in one of the most spectacular of all bird displays.
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The Galapagos penguin can survive in the equatorial waters of the Galapagos because the cold waters of the Humboldt current bathe the western coasts of Isabela and Fernandina. Galapagos penguins are most closely related to the Humboldt and Magellan penguins. They have problems keeping cool on land but during moult they cannot keep warm in the water, so they avoid the sea at this time and fast for 10-15 days while their new plumage grows.
You can help support the conservation of seabirds in Galapagos by Adopting a booby, visiting Sylvia Harcourt-Carrasco Bird Life Fund for Galapagos, or making a donation at Online donation. If you would like further information, please contact the GCT office on +44 (0)20 7629 5049 or gct@gct.org. Thank you.
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