Magnificent frigate birds breed
in only one place in Florida.
From time to time, beachgoers
along Brevard and Volusia may look high in the sky and spot a very large bird
with a distinctive "V" in each wing and a split tail.
It's an aerial virtuoso, the
magnificent frigate bird, and Florida expert Ken Meyer fears they are in for
tough times unless the species can expand where it breeds and thrives.
"They are declining in
population," he said, explaining there are several sources of trouble for
the birds, including the disappearance of fish that they hunt.
Already under assault, their
single, low-lying nesting site in Florida is vulnerable to drowning because of
"climate change and sea-level rise," Meyer said.
Frigate birds have wingspans of
more than 7 feet and spend their lives soaring over coastlines and oceans in
voyages that last days and nights without touching land.
Their feathers are not
waterproofed with a coat of oil, as with many other birds, and landing on ocean
waters can be lethal.
Despite their size, they are
agile enough to snatch flying fish in midflight and quick enough to harass
gulls into surrendering fish they had caught.
Florida has a small population of
frigate birds that nests each year; their home is a group of islands at the end
of the Florida Keys called the Dry Tortugas.
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