R. Doug Wicker — Author

Natural Bridge

Entire cliffs on Islas Ballestas were covered in birds.  Here are more of the ever-present Peruvian boobies demonstrating what I mean:

A Cliff of Birds

Meanwhile Islas Ballestas beaches were crowded with mother sea lions and their army of pups (note the gigantic male on the left side of the photo):

Babies on the Beach

Lest you think that the above photo was merely a tight cropping that misrepresents the numbers, here’s another view:

Pups and Moms

Here are some females enjoying some quiet time alone:

Conserving Energy

And more Peruvian boobies:

More Guano Factories at Work

Oddly, the sea lions were just as likely to rest on hard rock as they were on gentle sand:

For Additional Information:

• Islas Ballestas — Wikipedia
• Islas Ballestas — Lonely Planet
• Paracas National Reserve — Wikipedia
• Paracas National Reserve — Trip Advisor
• Paracas National Reserve — Nature.org
• Ballestas Islands — Trip Advisor

Birds of a Feather Flocking Together

Yes, there were a lot of Peruvian boobies on Islas Ballestas, but they weren’t the only birds around.  Here are some red-legged cormorants:

Red-Legged Cormorants

But most people on our boat were much more interested in the South American sea lions that populated the rocky cliffs and sandy beaches:

Sea Lion Beach

Here’s a view of yet another colony of female sea lions and their pups:

Mamas and Pups

The flocks of birds dotting the face of the rugged cliffs were staggering:

Peruvian Boobies

The relentless pounding of surf erodes the rocks while producing a noticeable roar:

Crashing Waves

Eventually this erosion eats away large portions of rock leaving behind caves, bridges, and other large openings while undermining entire sections of island:

Eroding Rocks

For Additional Information:

• Islas Ballestas — Wikipedia
• Islas Ballestas — Lonely Planet
• Paracas National Reserve — Wikipedia
• Paracas National Reserve — Trip Advisor
• Paracas National Reserve — Nature.org
• Ballestas Islands — Trip Advisor