Special to AllThingsCruise
They loll around around the harbors and spoon together the same way we do when we sleep, even to the same way we belch and cough. But it’s obvious that in the Galapagos, sea lions rule.
We’ve come here at the beginning of April to join a group of visitors on the MV Evolution, the 200-plus-foot ship owned by International Expeditions which will take us to seven different islands of this archipelago 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
An unexpected advantage of this voyage is the fact that 13 members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society are part of our 28-member group, which means that we will be able to see some of the amazing birds here on the islands through the sharp eyes of experienced birders who not only see birds with their sharp eyes, but know what they’re looking for and are extremely excited to add a large group to their life lists.
Thus on our first island visited, San Cristobal, the blue-footed boobies are an extra thrill to everybody. We are actually able to get within inches of these ridiculous looking birds and even see a couple of them courting. Mating to a blue-footed boobie means courting by means of picking the bugs out of your would-be mate’s feathers.
The bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs are striking against the black lava rock of this island.
April 2, 2011
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
