Life on Fernandina Island

Several times in 1990 and 1991, for up to five months at a time, we had a field camp at Cabo Hammond on Fernandina Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador. We had anywhere from three to six people in camp at any one time, plus plenty of fur seals, sea lions, iguanas, lizards, the endemic Fernandina rice rat, and others.

thumbnail boat approaching fernandina island This is how Fernandina appeared on the horizon, after a 32 hour boat trip from Santa Cruz Island, the location of the Charles Darwin Research Station, and our logistic staging base.

 

 

thumbnail fernandinas rugged coastlineFernandina - an island uninhabited by humans - has a very rugged coastline of various lava formations. The surf is strong and the terrain extremely difficult to negotiate.

 

 

 

our camp at sunset Cabo Hammond is one of the few places where landing is easy, and where we were able to set up a comfortable camp at a small lagoon.

 

relaxing at the table in dining tent We had to bring all our supplies, including drinking water, while being extremely careful not to bring along any non-native species such as fire-ants, wasps, rats or others. Such species would wreak havoc on the resident fauna and flora. Many local birds for example are not accustomed to terrestrial predators, and intoduced rats, cats, dogs and pigs have a field day with their eggs on other islands, where they have been introduced.

our camp against the backdrop of the quiet volcano We lived in tents, amidst the local wildlife.

 

 

 

a sea lion is resting under the tent flapThe younger sea lions especially appreciated the shade our tents offer. This is Fritz, a yearling sea lion, who liked my tent.

 

 

a sea lion is resting on a bed inside one of the tents Jerry - a two-year-old sea lion - preferred Uli's tent and mattress.

 

 

 

we are watching the eruption of the volcano in the afternoon On April 19th, 1991, the Volcano La Cumbre which dominates Fernandina Island, erupted.

Check out the Ring of Fire for details!

 

 

at night the eruption bathes our diner tent in red light Sitting in our dining tent at night. It is well after midnight, but who can sleep during one of the most amazing spectacles nature can offer?

 

 

 

a galapagos fur seal female has a very pointy headWe spent our time on Fernandina studying the diving habits of Galapagos fur seals. The development of diving in young fur seals in particular was the focus of this study. On the left is a picture of an adult Galapagos fur seal female. These are the smallest pinnipeds, adult females average only about 28 kg in body mass.

 

 

More on our work with the Galapagos fur seals

Galapagos Wildlife

The people who worked on this project are:
Markus Horning, Fritz Trillmich, Alonzo Landazuri, Jacinto Leon, Mario Piu, Fabricio Barahona, Ulrich Erfurth, Marion Voss, Sabine Schaffrath, Liesel Winter, Gilla Hegel, Jerry Kooyman, Kyra Mills.

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