Blue footed boobies can be found on many Galapagos Islands, including our island of Santa Cruz. However, one of our favourite islands to observe them is on North Seymour Island , a
small islet
directly north of Balta Island and Santa Cruz.
Where is blue-footed booby found?
blue-footed boobies nest
on islands in the
tropical eastern pacific
Though thousands live in Mexico’s Gulf of California, finding them in the United States or Canada is challenging.
Are blue-footed boobies really blue?
The causal reason is that carotenoid pigments, which the boobies get through their diet, are concentrated in their feet, making them appear blue in colour The concentration of these pigments determines the strength of the colour of the feet, with higher concentrations making the feet a more intense colour of blue.
Why is it called a blue-footed booby?
Share. The blue-footed booby is a seabird named for its very distinctive bright blue feet As individuals of this species become mature, their feet turn blue, a secondary sex characteristic used in courtship behavior to attract mates.
Can blue-footed boobies fly?
Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies.
How does a female blue-footed booby choose a mate?
How does a female blue-footed booby choose a mate? Females often choose a mate with the brightest feet ; the bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate.
What eats blue-footed boobies?
Predation. On the Galápagos Islands, the only predator of Blue-footed Boobies is the
galapagos hawk
(Buteo galapagoensis), the only diurnal bird of prey of the islands.
How many blue-footed boobies are left in the world?
Around 80,000 blue-footed boobies are currently left in the world. The majority of these breeding pairs nest in the Galapagos Islands and their population is quite stable.
Do blue-footed boobies live in Galapagos?
Blue-footed boobies are one of three booby species found on Galapagos They are large,
distinctive birds
, found along the Eastern Pacific coastline where they often nest on small islands with rocky coasts.
Do blue-footed boobies mate for life?
The male then tips his beak, wing tips and tail towards the sky and makes a whistling noise, parading around the female using large steps to show off the feet. Once the male attracts and secures a female, it is common that blue footed boobies mate for life.
Can red and blue-footed boobies mate?
These boobies usually live together in huge groups of nearly 200 but are also known to have independent nests for couples. It is believed that this species of boobies mate for life, where mating can be both seasonal as well as when the opportunity strikes.
How many species of boobies are found in the Galapagos?
The Boobies of the Galapagos Islands are endemic and not seen anywhere else on the planet. There are three distinct types of boobies found in the islands : 1) The Blue Foot Booby 2) the Red Foot Booby and 3) The Nazca Booby also called the Masked Booby.
When did the blue-footed booby go extinct?
On these islands in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Ecuador, the population of blue-footed boobies has dropped from around 20,000 in the 1960s to 6,400 today , according to a new study in Avian Conservation and Ecology.
How fast do blue-footed boobies dive?
Capable of diving from heights of up to 80 feet, adult blue-footed booby can hit the water at speeds up to 67 mph The Galápagos Islands population includes about 50% of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies worldwide.
Sources
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/blue-footed-booby