2-23-01 Isla Santa Cruz

Darwin Center

Baby Tortoises[6,10] 60mm 1/60 f8 pet tortoises [6,13]

We start the morning at the Darwin Research Center. Besides the video that describes how wonderful they are and the plea for money, the major attraction is tortoises. There are separate tortoise species for each island, a fact Darwin didn't realize until years after his visit when someone else pointed it out to him. We have Lonesome George, the last member of his species, a bunch of captive breeding programs for endangered tortoise species, and some eradication programs for introduced species such as dogs, pigs, and donkeys.

I had had to find my wallet for the first time since Sunday so that we could wander through Punta Ayora from 10:15 until 12:30. Galan and I do so but don't buy anything except for SPF 45 lip balm. 

 
Pet tortoises with Karen and Galan[6,17] Pet tortoises with Karen and Galan[6,18]

Highlands 

Lava Tube [6,19] 80mm 1/8 f4

We meet the bus at 12:30 to take us to the highlands. We visit a large lava "tube" that looks like a strip mine. 

We have lunch at a restaurant. A giant tortoise shell outside show the internal skeleton. Angela climbs in a tree outside. 

Vermillion Fly Catcher [6,23] 135mm 1/60 f8 Tortoise [6,25] Pintailed Ducks [7,0]

We go to another set of "tubes" that look similar to me. Then, because it is tortoise-mating season, off to a farm that has tortoises. I actually see six tortoises but only two are even close to each other. We also see a very pretty Vermillion Fly Catcher, a pair of Pintailed Ducks, and a Yellow Warbler.

Yellow Warbler [7,1] 135mm f8 group w tortoises [7,2] 60mm f8