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B is For Booby

Of course it’s a bird. What where you thinking? For shame!

These three little guys (small and still immature)
live with the Albatross at Sea Life Park.

The booby got its wonderful name from the Spanish word, bobo, which means “stupid fellow”. The name was given in part to the fact that booby are very clumsy on land, and sometimes tumble over when trying to walk on their large webbed feet. However, they are also amazingly calm and will land on boats and just sit there, allowing themselves to be picked up and slaughtered. Because of that, they were a favorite food of sailors. In fact, Captain Bligh of the Bounty and his crew, supposedly survived by eating booby after being set adrift after the mutiny lead by Fletcher Christian.

Quilly is the pseudonym of Charlene L. Amsden, who lives on The Big Island in Hawaii. When she is not hanging out with Amoeba, she is likely teaching or sewing. Or she could be cooking, taking photographs, or even writing. But if she's not doing any of that, she's probably on Facebook or tinkering with her blog.

26 Comments

  2. So they lived on booby while sifting through their booty on the bounty, huh? Hm.

    I really never HAD heard of this bird! I know LOONS – and that they are looney! But I never knew a booby! This challenge is proving quite educational so far! 😉

  3. Great pictures, a lesson on the Booby, and a little history thrown in. You ARE a teacher! Nicely done. 🙂

  4. There is/was a real family in my hometown with the last name Bobo. I’m sort of glad they stuck with the original Spanish spelling.

  10. how interesting… i’ve only recently read about blue-footed boobies and their courtship dance

  11. Oh, that is so sad – one of the few birds to trust humans end up being barbequed them! There is a moral somewhere in this tale, isn’t there??

  12. I like Booby, the blue-footed kind.

    I hope OC has a great time in Miami. Too bad that’s five hours south of here, I would have loved to meet him.

  14. I didn’t know about the Spanish derivation of the word. Then again, I didn’t know a lot of things!!

    Say G’day to OC for me, will ya!

  15. A rather pretty bird. I like birds, something about flying has always appealed to me, so I get a kick out of their ability to fly. and I love to feed them. I don’t like to see them killed. I know that as a food source, I suppose it was you do to keep alive if needs, must, but since I don’t need to eat them, I surely wouldn’t. My uncle used to have exotic birds. golden pheasants and quail. I couldn’t stand to see people eating quail, they are so terribly cute. I feed birds here in my back yard santuary, and it always makes me feel so good to watch the morning doves, they coo so prettily. Can’t imagine anyone eating one.

  16. Boobies have a special place in my heart. Oh, you’re talking about the bird? Actually the definition fits me to a T!

  18. Snicker. You said Booby.

    Great photos. It reminds me of when I worked on the cruise ship and we would go through the Panama Canal. Brown Boobies would often land on the ship and there was a joke on the bridge that whomever had lost some bet or another would have to get on the ship’s PA to announce there were Brown Boobies spotted on the Port side (or wherever). It always made me laugh out loud because sometimes they would mention Brown Boobies when there were no birds at all, but sunbathing beauties instead…

  20. Whoof!!
    What is a Booby Bird?
    It’s a bird that sticks its head into a bee hive and says “BOO BEE”!

    Okay, so it’s a sick joke. I’m a dog, what do you expect? A professional comedienne?

    Arf, arf, arf.

  21. I’ve heard of the Booby Bird before, but have never seen one. Beautiful birds!! But I wouldn’t have expected anything else. Great photos!!! I’m loving this challenge, though haven’t had time yet to visit others and am so looking forward to that.

  22. Everyone — thanks for playing. I have been very busy of late and unable to keep up. I’ll get back to answering comments soon! (I hope.)

  24. Whew! It’s good to know that the plural of Booby is Booby and not Boobies.
    I can take Booby, but Boobies would have put me over the edge.

    I guess calling someone a boob comes from the Booby.

    🙂

  25. Here I am- late again…
    I’ve never heard of such a bird but I’m glad they have a sanctuary in that park.

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