Nebou, The Blue-footed Booby's Revenge

The word ‘booby’ is thought to have originated from the Spanish word ‘bobo’ which means ‘stupid’. I’d say the blue-footed booby

looks endearingly goofy, not stupid. Did you know that the Galapagos Islands have approximately 50% of the world population of blue-footed boobies? They live on the western coast of Central and South America, and though they are awkward on land (as you can see in the images) they are amazingly graceful and streamlined when diving. We thought of this story when we read the astonishing fact that blue-footed boobies that are severely bullied as a chick do not grow up to be fearful and wimpy adults. No matter how badly the blue-footed booby chicks are pecked at by the older chicks, or deprived of food because the older chicks snatch it away themselves, once grown, the chicks are confident. They are able to do everything the older chicks do. We couldn't believe the research, but it's true. So we created this bedtime story. It tells how a bullied blue-footed booby chick learned to be brave and take care of himself.

Nebou, a blue-footed booby, was worried. His feet were no longer a striking blue, like the best blue-footed booby feet. Instead they were pale and colorless.

Nebou knew why.

He needed mackerel, sardines, and anchovies for bright blue feet. But he couldn’t find mackerel, sardines, anchovies, no matter how hard he tried.

“You still around? With those feet?” his oldest brother said, coming toward him. “Did you know Mom and Dad didn't love you? That's why they didn't feed you.”

“That's a lie!" Nebou said.

“Our nest was on a rock,” his second brother said, walking up. “You were on the steep side. We wanted you to fall out. We pushed you too, but you didn't fall. You clung to us and the side of the nest. You're such a loser.”

"You'll never get a girl friend either," his oldest brother said. "Female blue-footed boobies like males with bright blue feet. Bright feet mean healthy papas. You're such a sick loser."

"No," Nebou said. "You're both mean."

His brothers laughed and walked off. They took off to dive for fish.

Nebou watched wistfully. That's what he could not do.

Dive. For fish.

His brothers were right. He was a loser. His island was full of blue-footed boobies. All had bright blue feet. They strutted and paraded, raised their feet, and showed off.

Why can't I do it, Nebou thought? I've binocular vision. I should be able to dive at sixty miles an hour. I should be able to close my beak and my nostrils. I should be able to stay underwater. That's what blue-footed boobies do!

"I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT! HERE I GO!"

But he was still on the side of the cliff, shivering.

"OH! I HATE BOTH OF YOU!" Nebou shouted, miserable. "YOU ATE ALL MY FOOD. YOU KEPT ME WEAK. KEPT ME SMALL! YOU TRIED TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE NEST! NO WONDER I WAS TOO WEAK TO DIVE. BUT IF I CAN SURVIVE THAT, I CAN DIVE!"

And finally Nebou took off high into the air. He panicked, but steeled himself. Then he turned and dove. When he caught a large mackerel minutes later, he smiled.

His feet would never be pale again.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Sometimes, anger can motivate you. Use it. Never let a good, healthy anger go to waste.