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Showing posts with label Galapagos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Galapagos. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Another Little Corner of the World...


Today's post is not about my little corner of the world...


...but instead, a little corner of the world I was honored to visit last year.

If you've heard of the Galapagos Islands, then it just may be that you've heard of 
Lonesome George...

Lonesome George became a symbol of the Galapagos and "the urgent 
need to conserve nature"...
all kinds of souvenir paraphernalia throughout the islands featured some kind of 
rendering of Lonesome George...

Lonesome George died Sunday, at the age of approximately 100 years young.
That's only middle aged for a Pinta island giant tortoise.

What makes this an especially sad time is that Lonesome George was believed to be the 
last of his species.  Many attempts were made to "help" Lonesome George to 
mate and bring forth offspring, but apparently it never took.

While we were in the Galapagos, we were at the Charles Darwin Research Center
and visited Lonesome George.  
He may have been the last of his species, but he was a popular guy...







Sunday, December 18, 2011

Does a Bridge Need to be Stationary???






Bridging the way from the Zodiac to our Celebrity Xpedition...


Please visit the other participants of Sunday Bridges...

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Dance of Light and Dark...





"Nature is so powerful, so strong. 
Capturing it's essence is not easy-
your work becomes a dance with light and the weather.
It takes you to a place within yourself."
Annie Liebovitz


Friday, December 16, 2011

Skywatch Friday in the Galapagos...





"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, 
my soul expands in the worship of the creator."
Mohandas Gandhi





Thursday, December 15, 2011

Can't Leave the Galapagos Without Paying Tribute to....


The Iguana!!!

Marine Iguana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

"Isn't he a handsome dude???

Land Iguana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Land Iguana has a different coloring and isn't quite as prolific...

A whole heap of Marine Iguanas!!!

Group Hug!!!




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Galapagos Coup de Gras!!!



Giant Tortoise, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The coup de gras....the Galapagos Tortoise!!!
Isn't he a handsome devil (I think he's a he...)

These tortoise are the largest living species of tortoise...
some of the ones we saw were as big as 600 lbs!!! 
and can be even bigger!!!

This gives you an idea of it's size!!!

They're also one of the longest living vertebrates...
generally 100-150 years.

Records show that in the 16th Century there were upwards of 250,000 Giant Tortoises...
in 1970 records revealed the numbers had decreased to approximately 3000...

Because of substantial conservation efforts in the 20th Century,
the numbers have risen to over 19,000...
but they are still considered to be a vulnerable species...
Unfortunately, five of the original 15 subspecies of these tortoises
no longer exist...

Much of the conservation efforts takes place or originates from 
the Charles Darwin Scientific Center...






Monday, December 12, 2011

Puppy Love in the Galapagos...Sea Lion Style!!!



Sea Lions, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Sea Lions were almost as prevalent on the Galapagos Islands as the 
Iguanas!!!
And so many babies!!!  


For more participants in Macro Monday...click here...

Thursday, December 8, 2011

How About a BABY Blue Footed Booby???






Ahhhhhh!!!  

Sharon may be right...this is obviously a pre-pubescent Baby Booby!!!
Those feet haven't turned blue yet!!!


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Ubiquitous Blue Footed Booby...





Blue Footed Booby, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Yep...he's for real!!!

Undoubtedly one of the most Utterly Unique birds ever...


For more participants in ABC Wednesday...click here!!!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Iguanas...or Sea Lions???



I opted for Sea Lions!!!




Papa Sea Lion was holding school for the young 'uns!!!

When travelling through the Galapagos you are assured to find
two species...without a doubt....
Iguanas and Sea Lions!!!
When we were there we saw Sea Lions everywhere...
everywhere we didn't see Iguanas!!!  

The Sea Lions were abundant...and many had babies...some as 
young as two weeks old...
These young 'uns were a bit older...
perhaps early Sea Lion Teenagers???

Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Land that Time Forgot...



Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

I wasn't expecting the Galapagos Islands to be so reminiscent of 
a prehistoric setting...
After all, they're located at or near the equator...
I was expecting more of a tropical 

"If every one were cast in the same mould, 
there would be no such thing as beauty."
Charles Darwin





Saturday, December 3, 2011

Glimpses of a Blue Sky...Galap



Galapagos Islands Ecuador

We did a lot of skywatching in the Galapagos...
frequently looking for a break in the clouds and a glimpse of
a Blue Sky...


For more participants in Skywatch Friday, click here...



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Reflections on the bridge...





We got to tour the bridge of our delightful ship, Celebrity Expedition...
Lot's of interesting gadgets to look at and wonder about how these ships are
run...and then thinking of the computer pulling it all together!!!
Hopefully, if the electricity goes out...the engineer still knows how to run the boat!!!


Click here for more participants in James' Weekend Reflections...

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Love in the Galapagos...






On the video...these guys looked like they're dueling...
I think it was more of a love fest!!!


For more participants in the Weekend in Black and White, click here...

Friday, November 18, 2011

Equatorial Gold...





"We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon."
Konrad Adenauer


Sunset over the Galapagos Islands...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Just a Couple of Show Offs!!!


Another tidbit from the Galapagos...



Sooo...remember my posting on Sunday for the Weekend in Black and White?
These handsome gentlemen Frigatebirds are the same bird...
showing off their incredible gular sacs!!!


This is my first entry to the Our World Tuesday meme...
Normally I post a daily photo of Mammoth Lakes, CA...
However...after a two week vacation in the Galapagos Islands...
I just have to post some highlights!!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

It's a Bird's Eye View...





"The Eagle has landed."
Neil Armstrong


There was one beach on one of the islands that was the training ground for 
young eagles...this young guy was as entranced with me as I was with him!!!

This is my first entry in Macro Monday!  
Click here to visit more participants...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Flight of the Frigatebird...


Another tantalizing tidbit from the Galapagos...



These birds were like our seagulls...
They followed the ship and flew above us for hours at a time.  
Male Frigatebirds are all black except that they have a beautiful red gular sac
that expands when they're trying to attract a female...

These birds are made for flying...they don't land in the water as they 
don't have the oils that waterproof their feathers...
and they can fly for a week without stopping on land...

Pretty awesome don't you think?