Monitoring and control of the Red-Footed Booby colony in Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal

For more information contact:
Sixto Naranjo, Proceso de Conservación y Restauración de Ecosistemas Insulares
+593 (0)5 252 6189, snaranjo@spng.org.ec



The population of these endemic birds continues to decline.

Of all the birds of the South Pacific affected by the El Niño event of 1982, the red-footed booby (Sula sula) was the most affected. The Punta Pitt colony was on the verge of being exterminated. Today their numbers are recovering, but they still face threats by introduced animals.

Punta Pitt is located at the northeastern tip of San Cristóbal Island, located at 89° 15° W, 0° 42° S. The study site is characterized by being comprised mostly of volcanic rock and vegetation composed of shrubs, mainly salt bush (Cryptocarpus pyriformis) and yellow cordia (Cordia lutea).

It is home to a variety of bird life. Several bird species nest in this area, among them the great frigatebird, the swallow-tailed gull, the masked booby, the red-footed booby (Sula sula), the red-billed tropic bird, and the white-vented storm petrel (Elliot).

The El Niño event of 1982

In 1982, the El Niño event drastically decreased bird populations in the South Pacific. The warming of the waters prevented the generation of plankton, the food base for many fish species and marine iguanas. This shortage affected the reproduction and survival of several species of seabirds, especially Sula sula or the red-footed booby. Its population was estimated at 200 to 300 individuals in the area of Punta Pitt prior to this event, but according to field reports only about 30 individuals have been observed and recorded in this area.

The 1998 El Niño event and introduced animals

The recovery of red-footed boobies in the Galapagos, after the El Niño event in 1982, has been gradual. Until 1995, approximately 100 individuals were recorded on San Cristóbal. However, their populations declined again during the last El Niño event in 1998. Adding to this natural event are the anthropogenic effects, such as the introduction of feral cats, present in most populated islands.

The pressure exerted by these feral cats has diminished the number of birds, because they eat the chicks and drive adult birds to safer places.

The black rat and the brown rat break and eat the eggs. Furthermore, nesting is affected by the lack of vegetation cover mainly due to grazing by wild goats. 

All these factors modify the habitat of many endemic and native species that exist in the Galapagos, including the red-footed booby.

The control of rats and cats in Punta Pitt is helping the populations of red-footed boobies to recover.

According to field reports, an estimated 348 red-footed boobies were counted in this area during the months of May and June 2008.