This is Bird Note.

In the far off Galapagos Islands, blood is dripping.

There are vampires at work.

But they don't wait for cover of darkness to take wing.

They menace their victims in broad daylight,

stabbing holes in their flesh, then devouring the blood.

These vampires aren't bats.

Or castaway Transylvanian aristocrats.

They're vampire ground finches.

And they look innocent enough.

Vampire ground finches sometimes eat seeds,

but during the dry season, seeds can be scarce.

And their survival options are few.

Fly to another island, starve, or see what else nature offers.

On offer are large seabirds like boobies.

Fluttering onto a boobies back,

the finch jabs its sharp beak in among the feathers until blood flows.

Again and again the finch dips its beak in the blood,

making a meal of it.

Why boobies tolerate the bloodletting isn't known.

They may be too preoccupied with nesting.

Or it may be there are so many finches

...