Carol's Corner

A Dance to Remember

A little over a month ago, I hiked a deserted island—it was pure bird bliss. From a pair of boisterous Blue-footed Boobies strutting with style, to the solitude of a lone pink flamingo in a tropical lagoon, I was in awe. Currently marooned at home, I’m revisiting my memories for escape. Join me as I share a highlight of my experience in the Galapagos Islands.

To witness the dance of the Blue-footed Booby had been on my bucket list for years. While the Blue-footed Booby is not necessarily rare or unique to the Galapagos, its antics are a sheer delight to observe. So, when a pair of Blue-footed Boobies promenaded onto the trail and began the courtship performance, I was elated. Our group had front row seats. Cameras clicked as if in the presence of celebrities—and I suppose we were.

The male sauntered onto the stage looking terribly awkward in his oversized “blue suede” shoes. Those cerulean blue webbed feet helped to earn the boobies their comical name, which means foolish or clown in Spanish (Bobo).

Those feet, however, are about more than just good looks. The color of those feet are an indicator of the male’s well-being and foraging ability—the brighter the blue, the better the mate!

In an effort to impress, the male began to parade around the female, lifting his feet high and wide, in a blue-footed booby tap dance of sorts. She approved and joined the dance, mirroring his moves. The male bowed low, spread his wings and stretched his beak skyward as he whistled a high pitch. She answered the call tilting her beak heavenward and meeting his whistle with loud, hoarse honking. You have to see it to believe it. Watch it here.

With todays’ global pandemic pressing in on all sides, that experience feels like a dream—yet it is forever etched in my memory. And I am grateful. What’s on your bucket list? Let’s contemplate those dreams as we hope for a brighter future.

Have a bluebird day!

Carol