You will not walk far on North Seymour Island before encountering a blue-footed booby. Their radiant blue feet are unmistakable and, frankly, unbelievable. This 32 to 34 inch marine bird is a lightweight at about 3.25 pounds. On the ground, they are fearlessness when approached. Their clownish waddle is laughable. Spanish navigators called the bird “bobo” meaning stupid. This derogatory term evolved into booby. Yet they are amazing aviators. Their five-foot wingspan folds inward when their yellow irises spot a school of sardines. A flock of 12 or more will plunge simultaneously into the water like missiles traveling 60 m.p.h. They can then swim up to 80 feet deep to catch their prey. Estimates suggest there are over 6,500 blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos. Unfortunately, the population is declining.
