When we got there today, the chick was alone, on the ground, looking very healthy. On our way back, the father booby was already there. He had probably just fed the young because we saw the baby picking at its beak, as all booby chicks do.
Frigates are altricial birds, which means they spend a long time and energy rearing their offspring. It can be for over a year!
Boobies are semi-altricial; they take care of their chicks only for a few months. What is going to happen here with an altricial baby and a semi-altricial father?
We have decided to give them names. We don't often anthropomorphize, but it is too tempting to resist. The chick has been named Andrea; we really don't know if it is a female or a male, but it has a sweet face, the face of an Andrea. And the crazy booby will be Fabio, a good father but a little confused.
The Polaris is going for its annual drydocking, and we won't be returning to Genovesa for a month. Let's hope the story continues. As soon as we are back to Galapagos we'll keep you informed.
