09/04/2026
THE MATING RITUALS SERIES: PART 2 🎨🕺💙
Moving from the dramatic rainforest canopy straight to the coastlines for Part 2 of my series exploring the wildest courtships in the avian world! Say hello to the ultimate awkward dance king: the Blue-footed B***y.
These birds don't rely on fancy architecture or hidden capes, they rely entirely on footwear and pure choreography:
👣 The Neon High-Tops: Their bright blue feet are everything. The color comes directly from pigments in their fresh fish diet. The brighter, more intense neon blue tells the female, "I am a phenomenal hunter and highly healthy."
🕺 The High-Stepping Parade: To start the ritual, the male slow-motion marches directly in front of the female, lifting each foot ridiculously high into the air as if to say, "Look closely at these blue beauties.”
☁️ The Grand Salute: If she likes what she sees, they enter the finale called "sky-pointing." Both birds point their beaks straight up to the heavens, stretch their wings out wide, and let out a series of high-pitched whistles.
Some of you might recognize this charmingly awkward bird as the unofficial mascot for Warby Parker. They even opened a literal Museum of the Blue-Footed B***y at one of their NYC locations because the bird's iconic feet inspired their signature brand color. Hoping to make it there one day! 👓💙🐦
Store mascot aside, I'm a huge fan of their frames myself! Swipe to see me wearing mine at last year's Paint Creek Center for the Arts Haunted art opening. It's crazy that this year's show is exactly one month away on October 2nd. Excited to have two of my paintings on display there! 🎃🎨
