Espanola Island
The island of Espanola is located in the southern-most part of the archipelago. This tiny little island has so much to offer, from its biology to its geology. We started our day with a little bit of “rock and roll” as we were approaching to its northwest side. As soon as we dropped anchor, the rockiness disappeared, and the curiosity of the guests for visiting the island increased by the minute. It was not until after breakfast that our Zodiacs were loaded with eager guests wanting to do it all. The cliffs that surround the northwest side of the island provide a perfect habitat for sea birds. Here is also where the largest sea bird that we have in the Galápagos is found, the waved albatross. Counted by thousands, the waved albatross nest yearly on this side of the island. By now most of them are already successful parents, raising their chicks and getting them ready for the incredible upcoming journey to the open and vast sea. It was a privilege for us to see a young, almost “ready to go” albatross spreading its humongous wings to the wind and tricked us for various minutes as if it was going to jump the cliff. It is highly probable that next week, this young bird will no longer be on the island. After all, it was obvious it was eager to take the jump and start the exploration of the unknown, but very inviting ocean. It will then spend the next four years at sea, waiting until it becomes a fully mature individual. It will not be until then, when it has returned to this wonderful paradise on Espanola, that it will encounter the bird, its mate, who will accompany it for the rest of its life…
The island of Espanola is located in the southern-most part of the archipelago. This tiny little island has so much to offer, from its biology to its geology. We started our day with a little bit of “rock and roll” as we were approaching to its northwest side. As soon as we dropped anchor, the rockiness disappeared, and the curiosity of the guests for visiting the island increased by the minute. It was not until after breakfast that our Zodiacs were loaded with eager guests wanting to do it all. The cliffs that surround the northwest side of the island provide a perfect habitat for sea birds. Here is also where the largest sea bird that we have in the Galápagos is found, the waved albatross. Counted by thousands, the waved albatross nest yearly on this side of the island. By now most of them are already successful parents, raising their chicks and getting them ready for the incredible upcoming journey to the open and vast sea. It was a privilege for us to see a young, almost “ready to go” albatross spreading its humongous wings to the wind and tricked us for various minutes as if it was going to jump the cliff. It is highly probable that next week, this young bird will no longer be on the island. After all, it was obvious it was eager to take the jump and start the exploration of the unknown, but very inviting ocean. It will then spend the next four years at sea, waiting until it becomes a fully mature individual. It will not be until then, when it has returned to this wonderful paradise on Espanola, that it will encounter the bird, its mate, who will accompany it for the rest of its life…
