Daphne
One of the central islands, Daphne lays north of Santa Cruz and west
of Baltra. There are
actually two islands Daphne Major and Daphne
Minor. Daphne Major is the younger of the two and the one that is
visited.
Though its location is easily in reach for most cruises, it is a
select few that are able to visit this special place. The National
Park Service restricts visitors allowed to visit
Daphne. It is only by special permit that boats are allowed to sail
close enough to view the wildlife on Daphne.
Though tourists may not spend much time on Daphne, but that is not true of
scientists. Daphne has been the site of a major scientific
research project and was the setting for the book The Beak of the Finch.
Scientists have captured and banded each of the
island's finches, monitoring the birds in an attempt to earn a greater understanding of their lives.
Visitors who do gain permission to go a shore venture up a steep
trail to the crater rim. Finches,
Masked
Boobies, Short Eared Owls
and Galapagos Martins are visible along the way.
Nearing the summit Red-Billed Tropicbirds nest in the cliffs.
These elegant birds with long white tail feathers and a coral-red bill,
nest in the over hanging ledges and crevices of the steep slopes.
Magnificent Frigatebirds build their nests in the little vegetation that
occurs on the islands slopes and near the crater rim. On the floor
of the crater Blue-Footed Boobies make their nests between April and
December. The presence of these sea birds makes Daphne an
exceptional island to visit. A place where thousands of birds can
be seen soaring overhead.
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