Magnificent frigatebirds are seasonally common on Longboat Key but I have seen more of them this week than on all other visits to the island. Whether hanging above the shore like tethered kites or soaring high overhead like a flock of vultures, the flight capabilities of these birds is truly amazing; indeed, they spend the great majority of their lives in the air, settling down on terra firma only to nest. For most of the year, they wander the open sea, gleaning fish from the ocean surface or stealing the catch of gulls and terns. When gliding over land, these harassment antics are often returned in kind by crows and jays, which mistake the frigatebirds for threatening raptors.
Despite their marvelous skills, frigatebirds possess an unusual silhouette which, to many observers, might bring to mind a Steven King novel. Though I am not a superstitious or religious person, their distinctive image always suggests an omen, perhaps of a coming storm....or worse. Combined with their superior aerial talents, the silent, alien-like presence of these wanderers makes them seem almost supernatural.
Clearly, these observations are in stark contrast to my typical, science-based musings but even hardcore naturalists make room for creative thought. Though, to me, frigatebirds may often seem to be dark, mystical beings, I know that their strange body form and reclusive behavior are merely reflections of and reasons for their evolutionary success.
