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Sujanpur Tira Trekking
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Five of the six booby species are in the genus Sula, with the sixth recently given its own genus Papasula, while the three gannets are usually treated in the genus Morus; many authorities consider that all nine species should be considered congeneric, in Sula.
These are colonial breeders on islands and coasts, which normally lay one or more chalky blue eggs on the ground or sometimes in a tree nest. Their name is possibly based on the Spanish slang term bubi, meaning "dunce", as these tame birds had a habit of landing on board sailing ships where they were easily captured and eaten. Boobies are reported to have been caught and eaten by Captain Bligh of the HMAV Bounty and his loyalists during their famous voyage after being set adrift by mutineers. |
The
boobies are large birds with long pointed wings and long bills. They hunt
fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey
underwater. They have facial air sacs under their skin which cushion the
impact with the water.