Hey dude!

For you fans of Finding Nemo, sea turtles do not say "Hey dude!" They look a little more like this:

The clip above was taken from our Zodiac excursion into a mangrove swamp. We observed turtles feeding in a sheltered area that was a rich habitat supporting many species of wildlife including birds, plants, insects and fish.

Turtles mate at sea. The following clip was our first encounter. (Listen to the chatter in the background.)

Mating at sea may take an hour or more. This description resulted in a standing ovation on our Zodiac.

I think this fellow has a Cialis problem and probably needs an emergency room visit.

After mating, the female must lay her eggs in a safe nesting spot away from the surf and tides where her brood can incubate. This is the view of a mother turtle starting her nesting trek.

This picture will be appreciated by women -- and lost on most men.

The return trip is no less daunting, but at least her mission is complete.

You can imagine our heroine (below) contemplating the cool surf and the return to the buoyancy of her ocean home. Her task is done -- at least until next year.

One consolation, she doesn't have to change diapers for 200 hatchlings.

The following was our last encounter with sea turtle mating. Again, listen to the chatter in the background.

Our encounters with tutles mating at sea was a frequent source of amusement throughout the week, but it only reinforces the quality of the experience and the impact it has on one's appreciation of the complexity and beauty of nature. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring six billion people with us.

Black tie and tails

"Your table is ready."

Galapagos penguins are the only members of their family to live at the equator. They survive here because the surrounding currents bring cold water and the needed food supply. These are the same currents that make the variety of life so unique.


In documentaries of Antarctica, we are accustomed to seeing great colonies of penguins. That is not the case here. They are scattered in small numbers, two or three at a time.


Many of them are found on the craggy volcanic rocks five to ten feet above the water. As you can see, they tend to blend in and are difficult to spot -- until you get up close.

We didn't see any swimming or diving because this time of year they are molting. When they molt, they loose the protective oils in their feathers that keeps them dry and buoyant. If they were to jump into the sea at this time, they would drown.

How they climb onto these rocks with those stubby legs is beyond me.