Coming In For A Landing

Kim Steutermann RogersMonday, October 06, 2008

This is what a juvenile Red-footed Booby looks like when it’s about to land on your head.

It seems that unlike our other seabirds at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge when a Red-footed Booby fledges, it actually hangs around its nestsite, learning to fly and returning home like a college gradute who expects its parents to continue to feed and house it.  During this month-long fledging process, these juveniles can be seen flying as if they’ve attended a fraternity kegger and attempting to land on the unlikeliest of things–like me.

Here is what a red-footed booby looks like after you give a little start and, perhaps, even a squeal.  S/he might be as surprised as I was.