Ascension Frigatebird (Fregata aquila) lives in tropical ocean and remote island across Ascension Island, South Atlantic. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Ascension Frigatebird
- The 6,250 breeding females counted in 2001-2002 lived on a single 3-hectare (7.4-acre) plateau atop Boatswain Bird Island, just 250 m (270 yd) from Ascension Island's coast. Because females only breed every other year, that count suggests a total of about 12,500 birds. Such concentration on one tiny spot makes the whole species vulnerable to any disturbance.
- Feral cats introduced in 1815 wiped out the birds' original colonies on Ascension Island, but a cat-eradication drive from 2002 to 2004 cleared the threat. Two pairs returned to nest on the main island in 2012, and by 2014 twelve nests were recorded on the Letterbox Peninsula. This rapid rebound shows how targeted predator control can revive a species that once vanished from its historic home.
- A juvenile Ascension frigatebird was spotted far from its Atlantic home: in July 2013 on Scotland's Islay island and again in June 2014, a satellite-tracked bird drifted within 100 nautical miles of Brazil's Fernando de Noronha, about 200 miles from the South American mainland. These sightings prove the species can travel thousands of kilometres across open ocean.
- Genetic studies show the Ascension frigatebird is closest to the magnificent frigatebird within the genus Fregata. This relationship was uncovered by analyzing ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA, confirming that the two share a more recent common ancestor than with the other frigatebird species.
- Its wings reach a span of 196-201 cm (77-79 in). At 89-96 cm (35-38 in) long and weighing about 1,250 g (2.76 lb), the bird.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeAscension Island, South Atlantic
HabitatTropical ocean and remote island
DietFish and squid
About the Ascension Frigatebird
In the boundless skies above the remote Ascension Island, the majestic Ascension Frigatebird soars with effortless elegance, its sleek, ebony silhouette slicing through the trade winds with a mesmerizing blend of power and precision. As it glides, its expansive wings beat with a slow, deliberate rhythm, casting a hypnotic spell over the vast expanse of ocean below, where it reigns supreme as a master of the aerial realm. With its remarkable ability to stay aloft for weeks at a time, this vulnerable voyager weaves an enchanting tale of endurance and adaptability, its very existence a testament to the awe-inspiring wonders of the natural world.
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