Floreana Island

Visiting the lagoon at Pt. Cormorant, Floreana, is an excursion of surprises. One never knows if there will be flamingos in the lagoon, or how close, nor how far, they will be from the trail. Lately we have had the fortune to share this area with around 25 flamingos, mostly adults, but a few juveniles also. In the photograph are some of us who followed Antonio to the border of the lagoon and were lucky enough to have a juvenile feeding within meters distance. It's extraordinary to think that just a few decades ago the Galapagos flamingos wouldn't allow a human to approach within miles (to exaggerate just a fraction). The feral pig situation on the island of Floreana was so bad that the flamingos were virtually chased off from here any time breeding was attempted. Only with the conservation measures taken against the pigs, by the National Park wardens, have the flamingos settled down to a calm and fearless existence in the lagoon. The first time the birds were seen to be making a stab at breeding once again in the lagoon, a separate trail was designed to leave them in peace, for minimum disturbance. It is only within the last two decades that they have reverted to their former "innocence", and nonchalantly promenade past clicking cameras, busy with their own private schedules. How amazing it all is.