With such a large population of boobies at Genovesa Island, you can witness all stages of their development – from eggs to old age. Judging from the condition of the bill on this blue-footed booby, it is probably reaching the end of its 17 year life expectancy. So why are its feet and legs not blue? The seabirds lose their coloring when sick, malnourished and as they age. This is nature’s way of indicating the individual is not ideal for mating. It seems females only favor the males with the brightest blue extremities.
