News archive for 2014
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More on issues facing the Charles Darwin Foundation and its research function
Photo: AP?GoogleThe very important research that the Charles Darwin Foundation does is under threat as reported by the Washington Post
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Research on climate change effects on Galapagos
Photo: Ruth Fremson/New York TimesNew York Times reports on World Wildlife Fund research that climate change is having dramatic effects on the Galapagos archipelago and that Darwin was wrong when he rejected the natural catastrophe theory of evolution
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Fascinating look at Mama’s Boys
Photo: Matt Moyer, National Geographic CreativeJuvenile male sea lions like to stay close to their mothers – find out more in this National Geographic article
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CDF Shop Closure
Photograph: Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures/CorbisSome of the issues that face the Charles Darwin Foundation are outlined in this Guardian article
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Charles Darwin Foundation in battle for its life
Serious news about the Charles Darwin Foundation in it’s struggle to survive – find out more here
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Galapagos Photos
Check out these great photos taken by Sinon Fordham on recent visit to Galapagos
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Espanola Giant Tortoises come back from the brink
From a mere 15 giant tortoises that were left on Espanola their numbers now exceed 1,000. Find out more about this successful reintroduction programme in this BBC article
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Helping to stop Galapagos invasion
Using satellite imagery and field observations areas of invasive vegetation were identified by a collabarative project between Ecuadorian and Australian universities, the Directorate of Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Areas of focus revealed very high levels of the invaders in the highlands and tree canopy – check out this well presented report here
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Philornis downsi on YouTube
We have featured a few articles and a photo journal in our newsletters and on the website recently on the mangrove finch and the threat to it by the fly, Philornis downsi. See this YouTube video on how the Charles Darwin Foundation is tackling the fight to control the fly and its devastating effects on the mangrove finch.
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Lonesome George receives high powered recognition in New York
AMNH/D.FinninThe American Museum of Natural History hosted a lecture in honour of Lonesome George who is on display at the Museum. The lecture and panel discussion titled Lonesome George and Galapagos Today: What the Tortoise taught Us can be heard and seen here and is well worth viewing with a wide ranging discussion (and some entertaining stories about Lonesome George) on conservation and biodiversity in Galapagos that have wider application as well.
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Floreana Mockingbird & Mangrove Finch Newsletter
See our latest newsletter with two great bird stories – the Floreana Mockingbird & the Mangrove Finch
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Wellington High School Teachers Blog from Galapagos
Check out blog here that 2 Wellington teachers are doing from Galapagos for their students back in New Zealand
“We will spend 14 days on the archipelago, investigating Evolution, Sustainability, Eco-tourism and Conservation. We are blogging for our students, colleagues, friends and whanau.”
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New species of many varieties appearing in Galapagos
Wide ranging article from the Gulf Tines looking at new species popping up in Galapagos
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Lonesome George – Henry Nicolls Remembers
Henry Nicolls remembers Lonesome George in this Animal Magic article in The Guardian and what has occurred to the giant tortoise since his death
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Invasive Plants in Galapagos
Another common problem for both Galapagos and New Zealand is the invasive vegatation that over run large parts of both island groups. Find out more from this study lead by the University of Western Australia
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No Bird is An Island unless you are a Louse
Lice call Galapagos hawks home – intriguing article here
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Presentation by Chris Gaskin & Karen Baird 9 October 2014 6.00pm, AGM 5.00PM
Join us for a great evening hearing about Chris & Karen’s expedition to Galapagos in their search for the nesting site of the Whit-vented Storm Petrel. -
Lonesome George goes to NYC
Lonesome George continues on his famous way despite his passing – visiting the Musuem of Natural History in New York City. Check out Henry Nicolls unique take on George here
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Giant Tortoise Video
Excellent video of Danny Rueda from the Galapagos National Park talking about his favourite – the Giant Tortoise along with great shots of some of Danny’s favourite creatures
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AGM 9 October 2014
Friends of Galapagos New Zealand – Notice of Annual General Meeting – to be held on 9 October 2014 – at 5.00pm – in Western Springs Garden Community Hall – 956 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland AGM Notice 2014
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Photo of the Day
Photo: Joseph TepperLovely photo of the rare Galapagos penguin from Audubon magazine
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Giant Tortoise restoration
Photo Galapagos Conservancy – Greg SchenklerGreat item from our sister organisation Galapagos Conservancy on restoration of Giant Tortoise populations and habitat here
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Francesca talks about the Mangrove Finch Project
Photo: Charles Darwin FoundationHear this inspiring talk on Radio New Zealand as fellow Kiwi Francesca talks about her work leading the Mangrove Finch Project. Francesca has also been working with the White-vented Storm Petrel project team and we featured her in this July newsletter.
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White-vented Storm Petrel Project – the latest blogs from Karen
Photo: Chris GaskinThe latest from the White-vented Storm Petrel Project with an engaging 2 part blog from Karen – find out all about it here
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In Darwin’s Footsteps
More on Peter and Rosemary Grant and their observations of evolving finches – see this New York Times article
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Galapaface 1 Salavage
Another take on the grounding of Galapaface 1 with details of the salvage operation – find out more here
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Photo Journal of Mangrove Finch Project
See this wonderful photo journal from a collaboration between the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Galapagos National Park Directorate, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust & the San Diego Zoo on the mangrove finch project where 15 captive reared were released into their natural habitat. Fransesca Cunninghame leads this project and was featured in one of newsletters in July.
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White-vented Storm petrel Project Update
More wonderful news from Karen’s blogs as the project team continue their search for White-vented Storm petrel – find out all about it here
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Darwin’s Galapagos Library now Online
Wonderful resource with Darwin’s library now available online – find it here
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Follow-up on the grounding of Galapaface 1, it’s refloating and removal from the Galapagos Marine Park.
Galapaface 1 is refloated and removed from the Galapagos Marine Park – see more with this link to our sister FOGO, Galapagos Conservancy, with translation permission from the Galapagos National Park Directorate.
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Catching the White-vented Storm Petrel – Newsletter
More great news on the White-vented Storm Petrel Project as the catching of the birds continues – read more and one of Karen’s excellent blogs here
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Solaris launched in Puerto Ayora
Solar energy used to power first boat using green technology in Galapagos – more here
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Sanjay the Green Turtle paves the way in scientific breakthrough
Green sea turtle travels from Cocos Island to Galapagos – two sanctuaries that aid migratory paths. Read all here
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Emphasis on Galapagos sea dwelling creatures
Mascots Ramoana the shark and Felipao the grouper introduced by Charles Darwin Foundation to promote the importance of Galapagos sea life – see more here
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White-vented Storm Petrel Project – the work begins
Chris Gaskin and Karen Baird have arrived in Galapagos and Karen has posted two blogs as they and the rest of the team start working on the project’s mission to locate the Galapagos breeding grounds of the storm petrel. The blogs are wonderful reading as Karen describes their first impressions and the amazing sightings of wildlife even in the towns – from there it only gets better as they start to sight the petrel and then ………………. read it all here
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Tracking Technology Protecting Galapagos Marine Life
New technology being deployed in Galapagos for the monitoring of small fishing boats – more here
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Scientific Collections Debate
Most interesting report on the value of scientific collections in response to an earlier paper reported in Science taking an opposite view – see California Academy of Sciences article here
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Update on the ship aground in Galapagos
More on the environmental emergency that has been declared in Galapagos following the ship Galapaface 1 going aground – see it here
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Newsletter – May 2014
See some great stories and photos in our May newsletter here
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Blue-Footed Booby Threat
Alarming drop in Blue-Footed Booby numbers corresponds with shortfall of sardines – an important part of the birds’ diet – see this National Geographic article
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Racer snakes, iguanas, & lava lizards – sea level change and evolution
The land locked reptiles of Galapagos – how they came to be on many of the islands. See Geological Society of London blog here
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Threat to Mangrove Finch & Rescue Mission
Great article on major threat to the critically endangered Mangrove Finch and efforts to hand raise and release the young birds back to the wild – read all about it
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Evolution, Humans and Finches
Blog on islands, evolution, humans and their effect on local life forms. Some similarities to New Zealand . See it all here
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Darwin’s pet Galapagos tortoise
Intriguing story about Darwin and pet Galapagos tortoise – read more here
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White-vented Storm Petrel Project Underway
Check out this great update on the FOGNZ White-vented Storm Petrel Project that is underway with planning well advanced and the team headed by Chris Gaskin looking to depart for Galapagos in the second quarter of this year. Read all about it here
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Galapagos Park Rangers protect nesting turtles and mating sea lions
Park Rangers along with international volunteers monitor eggs being laid by green sea turtles. Introduced pests and natural predators such as the local bird population are a threat to the eggs and only a very small number of hatchlings manage to survive to adulthood. Read more on this and efforts to protect sea lions in mating season from human disturbance.
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Fossilised Tortoise Poop
Much can be learned from fossils of tortoise poop as can be seen from this blog
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Galapagos Volcanoes
NZ and Galapagos share volcanic landforms in addition to a number of similar conservation issues. See this informative article about recent research on the source of Galapagos volcanic activity.