A former journalist and business analyst that now works in the world of travel marketing. Based in Toronto, Red Hunt has travelled to more than 50 countries over the past 15 years. You can follow Red on Instagram or Twitter.
The Great Blue Heron is one of my favourite birds found in North America.
To be a fish, crab, turtle or other small creature near where these guys hunt must be terrifying. I’ve seen these birds hunt in parks near home in Ontario, Canada and as far away as the Galapagos Islands, but this one in the Florida Everglades put on the best show. I’ve heard they also hunt reptiles, mammals and rodents so even chipmunks and gophers and voles aren’t safe from these guys!
The heron must’ve been very hungry as it easily speared a few victims during the time I watched it, just before sunset. Impressive bird, that must’ve been more than 1m tall.
Great Blue Heron, Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park
An interesting occurrence when I visited Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka was the presence of farming and fishing activities.
After visiting a number of other National Parks, which seemed strictly patrolled and protected, Bundala was more open and accessible.
Nearby villagers have easy access to the park, which is not fenced in, so they are able to bring their livestock into the park for grazing. It’s a bit controversial as on one side conservationists want to stop the cattle from entering the park as they can bring in invasive species and graze on land that the wild animals will no longer use. On the other side, there is no space or public land for many of the farmers to bring their cattle outside of the park, so they need either a new source of income or more public land.
I didn’t notice any ill-effects from the cattle grazing, but I only visited for one day.
A Bull Moose in Wyoming, from the Shiras subspecies
The North American Moose (Alces alces) is one of the most impressive land creatures found anywhere in the Americas.
Being the largest member of the deer family, the Moose can weigh more than 700kg and stand more than 2m tall! There is actually a large difference between subspecies, with only the Alaskan and Chukotka Moose (in Russia) measuring such heights.
This specific subspecies is the Shiras Moose, Alces alces shirasi, found in some western US states and Canada, including Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia. It’s actually the smallest subspecies in North America, reaching only about half the size of some of the moose in Alaska!
Until you’ve visited Iguassu Falls / Iguaçu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil, you can’t say you’ve seen the best waterfalls in the world.
A fantastic variety of hiking trails and paths take you up close to many of the hundreds of different waterfalls that are found here.
The largest “cataract” here is that of Union Falls, pictured here. Viewed from the Argentina side of the waterfalls, the roaring thunder of the power of the water was intense and the mist gave everyone a nice cooling down in the otherwise scorching hot sun. One of the most impressive waterfalls I saw at Iguassu.
View of Union Waterfall at Iguassu from the Argentina side of the falls
After spending many months in the Galapagos Islands during my various visits there, I’ve learned quite a few travellers have strange expectations when it comes to visiting the Galapagos. Even people who have visited the islands often get things wrong. So, here are 5 things most people don’t know about the remote Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.
1 – 40,000 People Live in the Galapagos
A local soccer match on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos
It’s not all about the animals, as four islands support towns, with populations from 140 to more than 20,000. Spending time in the towns, especially on Isabela Island and San Cristobal Island, is a great way to get the full travel experience of the islands, instead of just ticking off animals from a guide book. Because of the higher standard of living in the Galapagos compared to mainland Ecuador, there are strict immigration controls in the islands for both visitors and workers.
2 – Galapagos Travel Guide Books are Usually Wrong
The park rules change so fast in the Galapagos that all printed guide books are out of date, even the famous Lonely Planet. Seek out current online sources for your travel information if you’re trying to visit independently, as you’ll be disappointed with the information in most guide books. I’ve seen dozens of people show up, believing their guide book is right, only to find out their Galapagos travel plans are no longer possible, or are now illegal. If you use your guide book for basics such as finding some hotels or restaurants, you should be able to find some still up-to-date information. But when it comes to visiting tourist sites that require a Naturalist Guide, either by land, or by boat, check with the locals or an actual tour company first.
3 – There are no Giant Turtles in the Galapagos
A giant tortoise (not turtle) on Floreana Island in the Galapagos
Giant turtles do not exist. Yes, there are some very big turtles. Green sea turtles that swim in the water in the Galapagos and lay their eggs on beaches can weigh hundreds of pounds. But these are green sea turtles, not a giant turtle species. The massive land animals that people come to see are giant tortoises, not turtles. Very different animals. Need to know how to tell the difference? In short – tortoises stay on land, turtles prefer the water.
4 – Charles Darwin only spent 5 Weeks in the Galapagos
Three years after Ecuador claimed the islands from Spain, Charles Darwin arrived and spent five weeks on the islands in 1835 as part of the HMS Beagle voyage captained by Robert FitzRoy. Darwin actually only visited four of the islands, and while he made many important observations at the time, it wasn’t until he arrived home in England much later on that he studied the finches and worked out his theory of evolution through natural selection – leading to his published work The Origin of Species. What is the most impressive thing you’ve accomplished after a 5-week visit somewhere?
5 – Goats have Wreaked Havoc in the Galapagos Islands
In recent decades, studies proved that feral goats were straining the local giant tortoise populations. These goats first arrived when early settlers and previous whalers and sealers visited the islands. Spreading into the highlands, their numbers increased to dangerous levels, where tortoises would starve because they couldn’t compete with the more aggressive goats, who would eat everything in their path. Eradication programs have eliminated more than 270,000+ goats in recent decades! About half of those are from Isabela Island.
