Blue-footed boobies suddenly expand range in California

A photo of a blue-footed booby, taken in the Galapagos Islands. The booby is reportedly expanding its terrritority into California. (Wikipedia)

High-diving seabirds known as blue-footed boobies have suddenly expanded their range in California.

The birds are normally rarely found north of the Salton Sea in the far southeastern corner of the state, but in recent weeks have been found across Southern California and as far north as Marin County in the San Francisco Bay area.

Kimball Garrett of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County tells the Los Angeles Times that the birds are suddenly "all over the place."

The species is large, bluish-gray, with a long, serrated beak, short legs and bright blue webbed feet.

Last month, the Arizona Daily Star reported a blue-footed booby appeared at Patagonia Lake State Park, the first documented sighting of the species in southeast Arizona.