The Isle of Renegade Poultry

It would seem reasonable to assume that a tiny fishing village in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, particularly one noted for being the second-most-isolated human settlement on earth, would be a good place to get a quiet night’s sleep. At least, that’s what I thought as I climbed wearily into bed after having spent the previous night attempting – with limited success – to get to sleep on an exceptionally uncomfortable airport bench.

As it turns out, the village of Hanga Roa on Easter Island is home to a small but vocal population of roosters that seems to be unaware of the normal rooster protocol of crowing only at sunrise. For some reason, these renegade fowl think it’s acceptable to crow loudly and repeatedly at any time of day or night.

Now this, by itself, would not be too bad, but unfortunately the local dog population seems to find it highly objectionable when done after hours and chooses to voice its displeasure by barking or howling loudly at the offending birds. This of course rouses the rest of the island’s rooster population who, upon hearing that all of the dogs are awake, assume it’s morning and start to crow as well. From this point onward, the only thing able to drown out the barnyard cacophony is the noise of aeroplanes landing at the local airport…which is thoughtfully located just five-hundred metres from the town centre.

Yes, Hanga Roa may be one of the most isolated places on earth, but it’s definitely not one of the quietest.

One of the sleep-deprived residents takes a quick nap

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