The kingdom of birds in the Galapagos Islands is always full of surprises. Studying the birds, naturists have observed some behaviors that result very interesting and even funny to us, but the truth is that these behaviors could be compared to those of Men. In this article, you will learn more about the reproductive rituals of the Blue-Footed Booby, the Frigatebird and the Albatross, three unusual birds that inhabit the Galapagos Islands whose unique mating behaviors attract tourists from all around the world.
For the male Blue-Footed Booby, finding a mate can be a complicated task due to the low number of female individuals. The male must start by getting the female’s attention, and the best way to do it is by dancing for her: Standing in front of an interested female, the male shakes his wings, whistles and performs a little dance with his big, blue legs. If the movements are good enough, the young male is ready to take the next step on his struggle to be picked. Once he gets the female’s attention, he has to win her heart with a present. If the female doesn’t like it, she will let him know with a loud squawk, turn her back on him and wait for the next male. Sometimes, when the present is very unpleasant for the female, she will lean down and squirt the male with her feces. Nevertheless, if the present pleases the female, the male will surely be among those who will have a partner for the season.
The female, as it usually happens among all animal species, is the one who picks her partner. This is also the case of the Frigatebird, who searches for the best partner among lots of suitors. To be picked, the male must first find a good spot in the bushes to alight. Here, the female’s taste in architecture is of great importance, since a poorly-constructed nest will go unnoticed. Once the male has found the best place, he will alight on it, inflate his red chest as much as he can and exhibit it to the female, who will pick the individual with the biggest and reddest chest. They will then mate, passing the best genes to their brood to preserve the species.
Finally, the Albatross’ mating ritual is probably the most longed for and witnessed by tourist, perhaps due to the truly romantic story involving a couple of Albatross. Once he has found a partner, a young adult with stay with her for the rest of his life, and both of them will take care of their chicks until they die. Season by season, from April to December, the couples meet at the Española (Hood) Island, where the love stories begin. The courtship lasts a few days, in which the couples dance before mating, rub their beaks continuously and sing all day long.
To watch these beautiful marine birds of the Galapagos during their mating rituals, visitors must be attentive and silent, and they must have a good camera in hand (no flash). Visitors are welcomed throughout the whole mating season, so join the party and enjoy this wonderful experience!
Photo: Mike Weston
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