Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel

Paul Demkovich

We spent 8 days in the Galápagos Islands traveling to 10 islands looking for the specialty birds on each.

Our travel was on a 70 foot catamaran – the Nemo III. As we cruised from island to island, there were always Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels accompanying the boat.

After dark one evening, everyone had retired to their cabins, except for our local guide and me. He was leaning Mandarin Chinese with an audio program on his computer and I was editing the days photos. I called out as a bird suddenly came in through the open door and began thrashing about in one corner of the living room. I jumped up and caught it! We called the lead guide from his cabin and the three of us examined and photographed the in-hand Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel for several minutes. This was a new experience for all of us! In the end, I took it outside and released it into the night.