Galapagos Islands 2012: Part 1

Note from Kevin: This year’s Galapagos trip report is by our newest intern, Sarah Winnicki. Sarah is one of the Ohio Young Birders I met several years ago at a conference held by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO). BSBO is headed up by Kim Kaufman, with help from famous husband Kenn and a great team of employees and volunteers. Through BSBO the Ohio Young Birders Club has risen to nationwide fame for the outreach to, and environmental education of our youth. Sarah is a great example of how excellence in mentorship can help bring forth a passion and exuberance to learn about and share in our natural world.

The Winged Virgin statue.

After breakfast we got on our tour bus and drove to see Bernard de Legarda’s Winged Virgin statue and Quito’s Old City. Following some shopping and a taste of ‘guanabana y mora’ sorbet we toured La Compania Church and Independence Square before setting off for Mitad del Mundo. We learned about the history behind this traditional French location of the Equator before we departed for lunch at the beautiful Restaurante El Crater.

View of Quito sprawl.

Variable Hawks, Blue-and-white Swallows and Llamas accompanied our stunning view of the dormant volcano while we enjoyed our meal. Following lunch we drove past roasting Guinea Pigs to the Inta Ñan Solar Museum, where we got a taste of native rituals (including the secret art of crafting shrunken heads) and the myths surrounding equatorial physics.

Sarah, our trip report author, tries to balance an egg on the Equator.

The gardens at the museum allowed for some photo opportunities of flowers, Sparkling Violetears and Southern Yellow Grosbeaks. After a drive back into Quito we enjoyed the buffet at the hotel’s restaurant and a briefing for the next day’s events.

photos © Kevin Loughlin
text © Sarah Winnicki