Why is the Blue-footed Booby going extinct?

Why is the Blue-footed Booby going extinct?

Breeding is down among birds known for their happy feet. But the birds have mostly ceased their hypnotic moves on the breeding grounds of the Galápagos Islands, causing an alarming drop in their numbers. …

When did the Blue-footed Booby go extinct?

It went great until 1997, the year of a powerful El Niño warm water event. Many seabirds struggle under El Niño conditions, so when the blue-footed boobies vanished from our study site on Española Island, I was not surprised.

Why do blue footed boobys have pale feet?

1. The blueness of their feet comes from their diet of fresh fish. It’s actually a substance called carotenoid; these are antioxidants that improve the immune system. If a blue-footed booby has pale feet, it likely means that they are unhealthy.

Which is better a male or female with blue feet?

Foot blueness of both genders is key in their mating rituals. A male or female with bright blue feet is much more likely to find a mate than a male or female with pale feet. 2. Male and female are nearly identical.

Why do Galapagos blue footed chicks have blue feet?

So it would appear that the blue feet which this charismatic species are so famous for are the result of a trade-off between immune function and signalling. Studies have even shown that foot colour reflects paternal contribution to raising offspring. Chicks raised by brighter-footed males growing faster than those raised by duller-footed males.

1. The blueness of their feet comes from their diet of fresh fish. It’s actually a substance called carotenoid; these are antioxidants that improve the immune system. If a blue-footed booby has pale feet, it likely means that they are unhealthy.

Why are blue footed boobys in the Galapagos Islands declining?

However, research suggests that blue-footed booby populations in the Galapagos have suffered large declines in recent years, with an estimated population of just 6,400 birds in 2012. It is thought that this decline is related to a decline in clupeid fish, especially sardines, which the boobies seem to need in large quantities in order to breed.

What kind of bird has blue footed feet?

The blue color of Blue-footed Booby’s feet varies in its intensity. Boobies with bluer feet appear to have more success in finding a mate than birds with duller blue feet.

What kind of fish do blue footed boobys eat?

At dawn, they take to the sky in search of schools of small fish such as anchovies and sardines, often foraging in large groups of up to 200 birds. Once the prey has been spotted, the booby folds back its wings, giving it a more streamlined shape, and plunges into the water.