In Search of a Blue-Footed Booby in the Galápagos Islands
- A desire to see the famous Blue-Footed Booby inspired a learning adventure to Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands.
- Led by naturalists and Road Scholar experts, participants observed wildlife including Blue-Footed Boobies, frigatebirds, sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas and giant tortoises.
- The islands offered opportunities to learn about volcanic geology, ecosystems and evolution in one of the world’s most unique environments.
- Observing wildlife with expert interpretation made every excursion both memorable and educational.
I was fascinated by the idea of a bird with bright blue feet — I really wanted to see a Blue-Footed Booby. Although I’m not a birder, I’ve always been intrigued by the diversity of life on our planet. My husband and I had spoken with several people on previous Road Scholar adventures who recommended the Galápagos Islands because of the incredible wildlife found there, including the famous Blue-Footed Booby. I was on a quest.
Road Scholar’s The Galápagos Islands: National Treasures and Amazing Wonders looked like the perfect learning adventure for us.
We began in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where we met our fellow participants and our wonderful Group Leader. We spent a full day exploring the city and Hacienda Cacao & Mango, where we learned how cocoa is grown and transformed into chocolate. We even made our own candy bars using chocolate produced from cacao grown on the farm.
The next day, we flew to the Galápagos Islands, an Ecuadorian archipelago, and boarded our 100-passenger ship. Our group included 12 Road Scholars, accompanied throughout the program by our Group Leader and a naturalist. Together, they managed every detail while helping us understand the islands’ wildlife, geology and ecosystems.
The very first night we went ashore by Zodiac, and as we walked the trail around the island, there it was — a Blue-Footed Booby sitting on a log by the trail. Completely unfazed by our presence, it showed off its light blue feet and piercing eyes. I was so excited! As our walk continued, we saw many more Blue-Footed Boobies, including several engaged in their courtship dance, a fascinating part of the species’ mating ritual. Amazing.
That same excursion brought us close to frigatebirds, whose courtship displays were equally impressive. Male frigates inflated their brilliant red throat pouches while females circled overhead, selecting potential mates. We felt so lucky to observe these birds in their natural habitat, and they all seemed oblivious to our presence.
The Galápagos Islands are relatively young in geological terms, offering a remarkable example of how life colonizes and adapts to new land. On Santiago Island, we walked across old lava flows, observing the countless shapes and formations created as molten rock cooled and hardened over time.
Blue Footed Booby
There were so many memorable moments on this adventure. My husband, Ron, snorkeled alongside a penguin on one outing and watched a curious sea lion circle nearby on another. We saw beautiful, brightly colored Sally Lightfoot crabs clinging to rocky shorelines, sea lions and their pups resting on beaches and docks, marine and land iguanas and, of course, giant tortoises.
Although my goal had been to see a Blue-Footed Booby, I came away with much more. Every day brought new opportunities to learn about the island’s animals and their ecosystems. The Galápagos offered not only extraordinary wildlife encounters but also a deeper understanding of the natural world.
For anyone with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn, this is a journey not to be missed!
Cathy Thompson is a retired school administrator who lives with her husband of 46 years. When not traveling, Cathy spends as much time as possible with her teenage granddaughter and two golden retriever granddogs. She also volunteers for her church and a local program that provides musical instruments for K-12 students who might not otherwise have access. Ron and Cathy share a love of travel and work to be on the road as much as possible.
