On our first day in the Galapagos — on the island of Genovesa — we were treated to this little domestic drama between a mother magnificent frigatebird, her young chick, and a rogue intruder. All was nice and sweet as the mother prepares to transfer a fish from her throat, into that of the chick. The chick had its entire head in the mouth of its mother at one point and eventually emerged with the fish. And that’s when the trouble began.

 


A male frigatebird (perhaps even the father we were told by our guide) was lurking in the air above. When he saw the fish in the chick’s mouth, he attacked, hoping for an easy meal.

 


After an intense battle of will, however, the chick emerged victorious and swallowed the fish in the face of the would be thief.