Fernandina Island
It is very difficult to describe the unforgettable day we all had today. Many extraordinary sightings were the delight of our guests: dolphins, boobies, penguins, marine iguanas, marine turtles, etc. Anyway I want to mention two sightings that are for me, by far the most impressive.
Flightless cormorants (Nannopterum harrisi) nesting, were performing a real nature show. Each time the male flightless cormorants were returning to their mates on the nest, they brought a present. Whatever the males can find in the ocean is gratefully received by the females. Seaweed, sea urchins and even sea stars are accumulated little by little until the couple gathers a big pile of presents. One cormorant was spotted in the water eating an octopus in front of one the Zodiacs! Ok, if this sounds good enough just wait until you read the next paragraph!
Late in the afternoon an announcement was made telling us that whales had been spotted. Once most of us were on deck we realized that in addition to at least three Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni), the critters that had been spotted were WHALE SHARKS! (Rhyncodon typus) From that moment on, the air was filled with a very contagious feeling; a kind of magic inundated the atmosphere. We were watching from the Polaris the largest fish in the world. This shark is enormous, reaching 46 feet and weighing up to 15 tons! We follow them for some memorable minutes. Despite its gigantic size, these sharks are harmless to people. We were able to see the huge mouth, which can be up to four feet wide. The shark was feeding, sieving plankton through its large gills. This shark can process over 1500 gallons of water each hour!
Well, what a sighting! But, it was even better… not only one, but three whale sharks were seen. Whale sharks are solitary creatures. Groups of whale sharks have been only rarely seen. We were privileged to witness this rare encounter today. An encounter I will never forget during my whole life and which makes me feel more and more committed with passion, to Nature!
It is very difficult to describe the unforgettable day we all had today. Many extraordinary sightings were the delight of our guests: dolphins, boobies, penguins, marine iguanas, marine turtles, etc. Anyway I want to mention two sightings that are for me, by far the most impressive.
Flightless cormorants (Nannopterum harrisi) nesting, were performing a real nature show. Each time the male flightless cormorants were returning to their mates on the nest, they brought a present. Whatever the males can find in the ocean is gratefully received by the females. Seaweed, sea urchins and even sea stars are accumulated little by little until the couple gathers a big pile of presents. One cormorant was spotted in the water eating an octopus in front of one the Zodiacs! Ok, if this sounds good enough just wait until you read the next paragraph!
Late in the afternoon an announcement was made telling us that whales had been spotted. Once most of us were on deck we realized that in addition to at least three Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni), the critters that had been spotted were WHALE SHARKS! (Rhyncodon typus) From that moment on, the air was filled with a very contagious feeling; a kind of magic inundated the atmosphere. We were watching from the Polaris the largest fish in the world. This shark is enormous, reaching 46 feet and weighing up to 15 tons! We follow them for some memorable minutes. Despite its gigantic size, these sharks are harmless to people. We were able to see the huge mouth, which can be up to four feet wide. The shark was feeding, sieving plankton through its large gills. This shark can process over 1500 gallons of water each hour!
Well, what a sighting! But, it was even better… not only one, but three whale sharks were seen. Whale sharks are solitary creatures. Groups of whale sharks have been only rarely seen. We were privileged to witness this rare encounter today. An encounter I will never forget during my whole life and which makes me feel more and more committed with passion, to Nature!
