The Galapagos

Ok, here are some pictures to start.  I'll be putting some more in a little bit. 

Juvenile frigate bird

Male frigate (notice the little red pouch by his neck..it's uninflated, so he's not mating)

Our boat, The Mistral II. (I look pregnant)  It's a boat for 12 but we were lucky enough to only be joined by one other couple.

This is Lonesome George.  He's the last of his species.  He won't mate and they can't figure out why.  Their very last attempt will be cloning to keep his species alive but they're hesistant because it's very expensive and they don't think it's going to work.

This island was entirely composed of hardened lava.

Marine iguanas..on our approach to the island in the dinghy, you could see a bunch of them swimming.

Mockingbirds...like to eat boobies' and albatrosses' eggs

Sealions

Brown pelican..they liked to perch themselves on our boat

Seals

Nazca (or masked) boobies

Red-footed boobie

Penguins and a sally lightfoot crab

Although it wasn't mating season, we were lucky enough to see the frigate bird trying to mate.  They inflate their red pouch, spread their wings, and make an incredible sound to attract the females flying above.

 

Exploring a lava tube

Land lizard

Giant tortoises

Blue-footed boobie

Swallow-tailed gulls

Snoozin