Sometimes life surprises you with spectacular moments. Often these moments are a random chance of being in the right place at the right time. However, spending time in the Galápagos Islands increases your odds of capturing these life-changing events. As the panga driver slowed the engine, our group turned in amazement to watch the Flightless Cormorant engage in a sensational watery contest with the octopus. Endemic to the Galápagos Islands, the stubby winged cormorants have lost the ability to fly, but these resilient birds are expert swimmers thriving on plentiful creatures such as fish, eels and small octopuses sustained by the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current. A journey to this fragile ecosystem is transformational, filled with incredible experiences possibly including an invitation to a Flightless Cormorant’s dinner show.
ANN & ROB SIMPSON Galápagos Islands with Lord Fairfax Community College
