Galapagos Islands - Creatures

The Galapagos Archipelago brims with life....

I was honoured to visit this volcanic island chain, 1000km west of mainland Ecuador during my Marine Biology undergraduate degree. Interning with a research group, we made a slow voyage covering many miles on a former fishing vessel, now used for research and conservation. The upwelling of cool waters from depth at a series of locations around the island chain, drives nutrient rich waters to the surface and allows for a proliferation of life.

This is a poem designed to make you feel like you're sitting on a sandy beach at San Cristobal Island. Sun setting, beer in hand and sea lions meandering back towards the sea.

Creatures

I’ve seen sea lions who on land command compete respect, yet in the water are playful as pups.

At the shore they grunt and moan, with hilarious disregard of man-made places and things.

Restaurant furniture is fair game for sea lion lounging.

In the water, boundless energy expressed through backward rolls and submarine acrobatics.

I have seen miniature dinosaurs in the form of marine iguanas.

Snorting salt out of their nostrils and lying over each other in heaving piles of hundreds, they mirror the colour of lava rock and soak up the sun in pure delight.

Bucking the reptilian trend with an awkwardly tappety-tap, they crawl to the ocean.

Swimming elegantly, single tail propulsion with breath hold far beyond my own, mouthfuls of macro algae are devoured in slow motion bites.

I have seen blue footed boobies making nests on barren, dry red earth, with piles of sticks. Chicks nestled under their mothers like little feather balls with beady berries for eyes.

The bluest of feet and beaks expressed by those who's food supply of pelagic fish is plentiful.

I have seen wave albatross nesting amongst the stones in pairs, batting beaks in a rhythmical mating ritual.

I have seen Galapagos tortoises standing mildly yet in contradiction, boldly amongst rocks.

Stern and quizzical expressions seemingly painted on their ancient gnarled faces.

I have seen green sea turtles in the abundance of hundreds.

When starting out from the shore, one might imagine an orchestra of turtle voices singing as their heads pop up for a flash, mouths open to take a breath.

I have seen tiny sharks with a fierce name of Bull Head.

They are as small as your arm and have skin patterned like tiny tapestries.

Laying egg cases of elegant spirals, wedged between rocks and crevices with precision.

These purses become part of the mosaic of the sponge and coral encrusted rock walls.

I have seen orcas, regal and black as the night cutting through the swell.

Left in their wake is the flesh of dishevelled turtles, remnants floating at the surface.

Shadows of Orcas below are mirrored by hoard of winged companions above.

An army of frigate birds and the occasional albatross there to pick up the scraps.

I have seen crabs as red as flame battling for the prize of rocks.

Finches with beaks large and small, scattered along the evolutionary spectrum.

Stars stream across the sky, suns set, and volcanoes ooze glowing molten lava.

Islands from these volcanoes, where life is abundant and niches are filled by creatures who somehow journeyed across the seas to make Galapagos their home.