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The
Galapagos has a small bird population which neverthelesss attracts birders
and the general public for 2 reasons: their relative tameness and because
almost half (28) of the 58 resident bird species
are endemic. The majority, 22, of these endemic species are the
land birds which are typically small and are unable to leave the islands
the same way they probably arrived: freak high stormy winds which blew
them the 1,000 kms from the mainland. The land birds are often quite
tame and have relatively dull plumage, the main exceptions being the
yellow warbler and the vermilion flycatcher. The land birds include
the famous Darwin finches, a key element behind Darwin's theory
of evolution, several of whose 13 species can be readily spotted.
In
addition to the resident species there are up to 30 migrant species,
of which half a dozen are frequently seen and the rest are occasionally
recorded.
The
sea birds have the least proportion of endemism, being able to fly away
when needed. Of the 15 species, 5 are endemic and these include the
flightless cormorant and the penguin. The Galapagos penguin
is the most northerly penguin in the world, penguins otherwise
being found in the colder regions of the southern hemisphere. Their
existence on the equator at Galapagos is due to the cool Humboldt current
which flows up the South American coast from the Antarctic to reach
the Galapagos.
The
island of Espanola is residence for almost the entire world's
population of the waved albatross, with its magnificent
wing span of almost 10 ft (240cm). Around 12,000 pairs arrive in early
April to breed and nest and leave in December. Courtship, a marvelous
choreographed ritual lasting up to 20 minutes, reaches its peak in October
with the new-found couple then waiting until the following year to breed.
The
bird most associated with the Galapagos is the booby, whose name
probably originated from Spanish sailors who thought they were like
clowns ("bobos"). There are 4 species, of which 3 are residents
and the blue-footed booby is the most famous.
The
best time to see birds in Galapagos is in winter, from October to February,
when birds are mating and there are many migrants.
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