man-o-war bird -most aerial of water birds..

[smiles 0]

Last week got to visit the Burnaby (B.C. Canada) wildlife rescue association where they were treating a magnificent frigate bird that has a damaged wing. This is a very rare bird to this area (located in the middle of the city, Burnaby Lake Regional Park is a stunning wildlife sanctuary. The lake was created by a glacier 12,000 years ago. Birdwatching is superb--great blue herons, bald eagles, belted kingfishers and osprey. You might even spot rarer birds such as the green-backed heron...but never a magnificent frigate.

Anyhow it was awesome to see the birds wingspan and also interesting to learn info on it. A huge mystery how it was found in the city here.

Frigate birds fly non-stop for days searching for food. They have been tagged with altimeters and ride thermal currents high.
Some birds got up as high as 2500 meters above sea level. There, the air can be 20° C cooler than the air at sea level.
Frigate birds move a great distance up and down but not very far in distance from home. With their huge wingspan (7.5 feet) and low body weight (3 lbs.), Frigates birds are built for gliding — not distance.
Plus, whether it's because of the low oil content of their feathers (meaning they waterlog easily) or because it is awkward to get enough lift off of the water, Frigate birds do not land on the water, so all of their captures are on the wing.

It turns out that the Frigate birds are able to glide just above the surface of the water and pluck a squid, turtle or fish without a pause. They are also known to steal other bird's booty or babies and have been nicknamed the pirate bird for those behaviors!

man-o'-war bird or frigate-bird is the most aerial of the water birds, It can soar motionless by the hour and has been recorded in flights lasting nearly four days, spending most of that time several hundred feet or more in the air. The name derives from its grace and swiftness in the air. Man-o'-war birds feed chiefly on fish but also prey on the young of sea birds and on jellyfish, squid, and young turtles. They have long hooked beaks and forked tails; the male has an inflatable orange throat pouch that becomes red at courtship time.

some pics attached
SMiles

[freeflir29 0]

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man-o'-war bird or frigate-bird is the most aerial of the water birds, It can soar motionless by the hour and has been recorded in flights lasting nearly four days, spending most of that time several hundred feet or more in the air.

Yes....but the real question is........Are they tasty?

[dterrick 0]

Those photos remind me very much of the cartoon-ish 'Pterodactyls' from the Flinstones.

WOW, talk about wings . I wonder if they are aerobatic or if they are purely cruisers? The planform and proportions remind me of a tandem glider. SA-woooooopppp!

Nice post, Karen.


Dave

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

[sdgregory 0]

Sweet pics. Good post. Something truly worth reading. Thanks

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Friggin' birds!

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