Frigates Flying Over Fort Jefferson
A beautiful week in the subtropical Dry Tortugas, a warm sun shining over Fort Jefferson, a few brief rain showers, and some of the most magnificent birdwatching --- Does it get any better?
Our favorite bird this week is the Frigate. The first one spotted was on a channel marker at Fort Jefferson; then, within a few minutes, several were spotted soaring above the fort. It was an incredible sight. Sometimes these Frigates are called pirate birds or man of war birds. They get their name from the fighting ships of the 18th and 19th centuries used by pirates and called frigates. These birds are recognized as bandits, known for stealing food from other birds.
This fork-tailed, long-winged bird of tropical oceans is quite the agile flier, and when not stealing its food, it is snatching it off the surface of the ocean. The Frigate is a relative of the pelican and cormorant, and its unusual tail enables it to make the necessary sharp turns, while its broad wings lifts it with little or no effort. This beautiful bird is mostly at home when in the air. It cannot walk on its short legs, and since its feathers absorb water, it seldom rests on the ocean and cannot swim. Their diet consists mainly of marine animals, so it has to catch its prey from the water without landing as they are not able to take off from a flat surface.
This sleek, powerful flyer measures around 40 inches long with a wingspan of about 90 inches and weighing in at about 3.3 pounds. Its long, hooked bill and forked tail makes the bird appear much longer. In comparison to its body, the Frigate has the largest wingspan of any bird species in the world, so it is no surprise that it is naturally a proficient pilot. Known for staying in the air for close to a week at a time with only brief stopovers, it is also no surprise that the Frigate has very few natural predators. The human is perhaps the main one.
The male Frigate is usually black in color, though some look a little browner than black. The male is more commonly known for his red throat pouch, which inflates during mating season to attract the female. The female is black and usually larger than the male.
The female Frigate lays only one egg every couple of years. The reason is that the young Frigate takes an average of nine months to rear. Both parents will feed their young chick for the first several months, but the male will leave the colony and let the female attend to the remainder of the rearing by herself.
With the Frigates out in all their glory flying over Fort Jefferson, it would be a shame to miss their interesting activity and behavior. So, come out and enjoy. Just be sure to watch your pockets, especially if you're carrying any edibles.