Blue-footed Booby

by Mike Stiles

It's not often a bird will make national headlines, but such is the case with the recent "invasion" of Blue-footed Boobies, making their way up the California coast as far north as Point Reyes. From the Los Angeles Times to Fox News, local newspapers, blogs, and television stations:  all are reporting on the sudden increase in sightings of this bird.

Local birder Kaaren Perry found the first of our (San Luis Obispo County) Blue-footed Boobies. She was very excited about the sighting and wasted no time in getting the word out to local birders. The previous, and only record of the bird was in 1969, the start of another incursion into California in the early 1970's, so every local lister took the opportunity to add a tick to their county list.

In the last several weeks, there were boobies reported from Arizona and New Mexico. At least seven individuals in were seen in Los Angeles County, and there were sightings in every coastal county from the Mexican border to Marin County, north of San Francisco. Fourteen were reported from Anacapa Island. San Luis Obispo County had at least two, and possibly up to five birds reported in widely separated areas of our coastline. As Kimball Garret, from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County stated . . . "they're everywhere."

Blue-footed Boobies normally range from Baja California south to the Galapagos Islands, where almost half the entire population breeds, and scientists can only speculate why these birds left their warm tropical waters to venture north. The most likely explanation is that the birds are following their food source of anchovies, sardines, and other small fish.

The name booby is from the Spanish bobo, meaning clown or fool, and possibly relating to the birds fearlessness of humans. The bird was studied by Charles Darwin on the Galapagos, no doubt enabled by just that attitude, and to this day when one is encountered on an island trail, it is the human that must step around the bird.

The blue feet of the male booby is used to court the female. He will dance and strut in front of her, raise one foot at a time, and will raise his wings and tail and point his bill straight up into the sky. The female will choose her mate based on the blueness of the feet. The pair will be monogamous, and the lack of seasons along the equator allows them to breed at any time of the year.

Blue-foots plunge-dive from great heights while hunting their prey, can hit the water at up to 60 mph, and will dive to depths of 80 feet. Air sacs surrounding the bird's skull protect it against the impact and the great pressure at that depth. Interestingly, they often eat their prey while still under water.

This is a fascinating and ultra-rare bird along the California coast. I suggest, especially if you are anywhere near my age, that you get out to see one of these birds. It may be another 44 years before another one appears.

All content copyright Slo Coast Journal and Mike Stiles. Do not use without express written permission.
Burrowing Owl on Banner by Cleve Nash