Galapagos Photo Page 4

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The Galapagos Hawk is endemic to the Galapagos.
It will feed on almost anything, young iguanas,lizards,
birds,centipedes,locusts and carrion.If it moves,
or if it has moved in the past, it is fair game for this bird.

Coming in for a landing

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The Galapagos Short-eared Owl. This owl is an endemic sub-scecies found no where else.

Maybe a little wing stretch might stir up some small birds or insects.
This owl usually hangs out near Storm Petrel colonies.
When he gets hungry, he just flies over and grabs lunch.

The Galapagos Dove is totally unafraid of man as are most of the Galapagos fauna.
Darwin commented in his notes that he was able to harvest one for the
stew pot by knocking it down with his hat.
Luckily he did not knock down the last one.

There are four species of mockingbirds that are endemic to the Galapagos. The Galapagos, Charles, Hood and Chatham.
I believe this specimen is a Charles.

The mockingbirds all look very similar so determining which is which is difficult.
I think this one is a Galapagos Mockingbird.

This inquisitive looking guy may be a Hood Mockingbird

As is this guy.

I would like this one to be a Chatham Mockingbird but some ornithologists may disagree.
But, it's my web site so I can call it what ever I like!
Seriously, I do think it is a Chatham.

Darwin Finches

Volumes have been written about Darwin and, his finches and the theory of evolution he postulated from them.

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These are the six different finches that Darwin studied on his way home
to England from the Galapagos

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Darwin collected many specimens during his visit to the Galapagos
but it was on the long journey back to England, when cataloging his finds,
that he realize that he had many different finches, but yet they were very
similar, except for their beak configurations. He theorized that these
differences had originated with one species, but that had evolved, based
on their feeding habits. He determined that they had developed
specialized beaks, depending on the forage available to them on each
individual island, and that the islands were sufficiently separated to
preclude them from flying from to another. Obviously his Theory
of Evolution was far more involved that this simplification. Additional
information is readily available on the Internet.

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These are some photos that were taken of Finches during the expedition. No effort was made to try and obtain photos of each variation.

This Ani was introduced to the Galapagos in the 1970's buy misguided cattle ranchers, beliving that it could control cattle ticks. It flocks in groups of up to 40 individuals. Its behaviour is markedly different than endemic species. Very flighty and extremely afraid of man. It is considered invasive and efforts are underway to eliminate it but are difficult as eradication methods are harmful to endemic species as well.