Male with extended display chest |
These birds live on Frigate Shoals -- a large crescent shaped atoll in the island chain just above the Hawaiian islands.
GREAT MAP! -- Click on it to see interesting DETAILS |
These birds sometimes travel great distances, though generally are non-migratory and stay within 50 miles of their home islands. As they are incapable of taking off from the surface of the water, they swoop down and pick fish just below the surface or leaping above the water (see mahimahi); or they may attack other birds in flight and steal the fish that their victims disgorge or drop. The 'iwa nests in remote areas or islands on bushes or vegetation.
NASA image of Frigate Shales |
OK; hard to see - click to make image bigger |
More about the unique habitat of this area follow this link: Frigate Shoals.
UPDATE another friend who teaches school near where I was swimming yesterday forwarded a photo of the sky FULL of Frigate birds.
Info from: Wikipedia, www.arkive.org, and Polynesian Voyaging Society, NASA
Info from: Wikipedia, www.arkive.org, and Polynesian Voyaging Society, NASA
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