Blue Boobies

Blue Monday is hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally. Stop on by and view other participants who are showing off their blue.

I bet I know what you're thinking. Come on, I know what you're thinking. You thought this was going to be a provocative post, didn't ya? Surprise, it's a booby, but nor the ones you were thinking of. Gotcha, hee, hee, wink, wink.....

Blue-Footed Booby (Sula Neboxuii)

Boobies received their name by allowing them to be captured while asleep. Boobies are a part of the Sulidae family made up of ten species of long-winged sea birds the size of geese. Their feet are completely webbed including hind toes, not free as in a duck. Boobies live near tropical and subtropical islands around the world, coming ashore only to breed. At sea they can be seen diving from the sky to catch fish.

Named for their blue legs and feet these are the most common and non-descript of the Galapagos Booby. Their natural habitat extends from Peru to Mexico. Young blue-foots look quite similar to adults yet it takes 2 to 3 years to reach their adult plumage of a pale streaked head, dark mantle with white patches on the nape and rump, white bellies and a dark tail. Blue-Footed Boobies nest in colonies. In large colonies there is almost continuous breeding with pairs nesting every 7 to 9 months. They can be seen breeding on most islands north of the equator in the Galapagos.

Could that shade of blue be any prettier? Nature is amazing.

I came across these little boobies while researching Huntington's Disease for a school project. They came up while looking for gene mutations. You never know what you're going to find but I think these boobies are perfect for a Blue Monday.

Blessings,