Good news for Dorset's red-footed booby - at least in our waters it is not at risk from piratical attacks by frigatebirds

 

Will red-footed boobies one day become familiar sight in Britain's warming waters?

WARMING seas are thought to be responsible for increased sightings of boobies in British waters.

It is only since 2016 that two species - red-footed (three) and brown booby (18) - have been recorded.

The latest red-footed occurred last week when it perched on a boat in Warbarrow Bay, Dorset, since when it has proved elusive.

This and other sightings have provided a reminder of an article by Jared Verner  about the flight  behaviour of the species as observed  50 miles east of Belize in the British Honduras . 

This appeared in an authoritative American ornithological journal, The Wilson Bulletin, in 1965

Writes Verner: "To become airborne, the boobies normally launch into the wind from an elevated perch.

"They also take flight from the ground with ease when heading into a wind, but, when  there is no wind,  they fly from the ground only with difficulty, half running and half flying for several feet before finally achieving full flight. 

"To fly from the surface of the water they jump forward suddenly into the wind by thrusting backward with both feet simultaneously in the manner of pelicans."

The author goes on to note that  boobies generally alternate a few flaps of the wings with short glides, but occasionally fly more than a mile without flapping. 

He continues: "They display great agility in gliding long distances above the surface of the sea, just clearing the crest of each wave without stroking their wings."

Also detected by Verner were "numerous (86) piratical attacks" by magnificent frigate birds - but only females of the species - on boobies as they returned from forays to catch fish (sometimes including flying fish).

He writes: "Boobies under attack screeched loudly in a raucous voice and attempted to outmanoeuvre the larger birds - often diving at great speeds in amongst the treetops. 

"But frequently the frigatebirds seized a wing tip or the tail of the booby in attempts to make it disgorge.

" Food regurgitated by the booby was either caught in mid-air by the frigatebird or was picked up from the surface of the water. 

"None that landed on the ground was retrieved."

                                       

The red-footed booby has even had a postage stamp designed in its honour 

* Top photo: Eowes via Wikimedia Commons