Fernandina Island
Nine years ago, when I first landed on the Galapagos Islands, one of my greatest surprises was to find a bird capable of eating sea urchins, crabs, and even oysters. Those wonderful shorebirds impressed me with their beauty as well. The stout bright red beak of the American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is unmistakable. They have become my associates during the years I have spent in this archipelago as a naturalist. As soon as I hear their loud and shrill "kleep" I turn my head to look for them.
We discovered a couple along the shoreline of Fernandina Island. They were enjoying a feast of crabs and sea urchins, exposed by the low tide. The same old feelings come back to me when I see the oystercatchers; it is always as if it were my first time again in the Galapagos.
Nine years ago, when I first landed on the Galapagos Islands, one of my greatest surprises was to find a bird capable of eating sea urchins, crabs, and even oysters. Those wonderful shorebirds impressed me with their beauty as well. The stout bright red beak of the American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is unmistakable. They have become my associates during the years I have spent in this archipelago as a naturalist. As soon as I hear their loud and shrill "kleep" I turn my head to look for them.
We discovered a couple along the shoreline of Fernandina Island. They were enjoying a feast of crabs and sea urchins, exposed by the low tide. The same old feelings come back to me when I see the oystercatchers; it is always as if it were my first time again in the Galapagos.
