In a fascinating piece from NPR's Far-Flung Postcards series, a correspondent shares their enthusiastic encounter with the blue-footed booby during a reporting trip to the Galapagos Islands. These striking birds, noted for their vivid blue feet and distinctive behaviors, captivated the correspondent, who likened their comical waddling on land and adept diving skills to displays of natural wonder. The correspondent also highlights the cultural impact of the booby, seen in local art and memorabilia, and concludes with a humorous reflection on life and uniqueness related to the bird.
My NPR colleague Aya Batrawy, based in Dubai, summed it up best after seeing a video I'd shared of a booby in clear focus, its neck twisted in a 180-degree pose, preening its rear cinnamon-brown and white-streaked feathers. "Now that's life," she remarked, "to be born with perfect footwear and the ability to scratch your own back."
I couldn't get enough equally amused at their gangly gait on land... while also awed by their precision diving skills at sea.
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