G is for Genovesa in Galapagos Islands

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt for starting and Roger O. Green for continuing this popular, long-running meme, and thanks also to my husband and photographer Richard Schear for his sharp eye behind a lens. These are his photos.
Special thanks to our friend Gattina in Belgium, who is hosting this week.

Posted for
ABC Wednesday


For the letter G this week, I have chosen the horseshoe-shaped island of Genovesa in the Galápagos chain, on the equator about 600 miles off the shore of Ecuador.

Genovesa is one of the smaller of the Galápagos Islands but is home to a great many different varieties of seabirds. Also known as Tower Island, Genovesa is a "young" volcanic island with seemingly inhospitable terrain.

When we visited the Galápagos Islands in 2006, we were told guests must try to avoid making any contact with the islands' wildlife, which were often well camouflaged amongst the plants and rocks.

Our naturalist guide, Karina (above) was a treasure trove of information about the feathered and marine animals living on Genovesa and the other islands.

Like many another island in the Pacific Ocean, Genovesa has areas that seem to have been painted white, but which, of course, have years' worth of bird guano deposited on their rocky shores.

This guest is standing well back while photographing an adorable pile of fluffy feathers which is actually a very young frigate bird. It will grow up to have a six-foot wingspan. Galápagos birds, even the very young, have no fear of humans, so it is up to visitors to maintain a proper distance.