Bird watching in the Galapagos
unlike elsewhere in the world poses few problems as there are only
about 60 resident species of which 13 are finches and many of the
others are distinctive and easily recognised such as the Blue Footed
Booby.
These really have to be one of the
most remarkable birds in the world with their almost unreal large
sky-blue feet and a mating dance which entails lifting the feet in a
very solemn manner, one at a time showing them off to the
prospective mate. Their name comes from the Spanish "bobo" meaning
clown or fool, the connection is easy to make when seeing them in
their mating display.
The lifting of feet is then followed
by "skypointing" - tails and beaks are pointed vertically upwards,
the wings are brought forwards and half opened while the birds make
a honking noise.
