I wrote up this bucket of baby birds a week ago after returning from Belize, and then got involved in some personal family "nesting"...my daughter "hatched out" her own nestling on Saturday. It was more complicated than expected but it turned out well...baby and mom are healthy and happy, and I've had reason to be grateful for the infrastructure, medical expertise and technology we take for granted as a fundamental right in a civilized society. In nature, animals are always on the edge of survival, and many - or most - of their young don't make it. It's humbling to regard the beauty and grace and drama of wildlife knowing that fact is integral to their existence. We humans have it easy comparatively, but we tend to forget there is a price for the benefits of civilization, both upfront and from its unintended consequences. The immediacy of recent events reminds me that we humans are animals too, and while there is extreme contrast between these nestings, we are all fragile in a challenging world.
The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Rain, sun, wind...insects, birds, flowers...meteorites, rocks...seasonal changes...all are worthy additions to the bucket. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
April 2015
Halfmoon Caye, Belize
Bucketeers have been reporting bird nesting activity going into high gear throughout the U.S. lately, from courting Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest to fledgling Titmouses in California. Nesting is a spring activity for birds in the tropics too, as I saw recently on a trip to the outer atolls of Belize.
One patch of woods on a remote caye is a busy nesting colony for both Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) and for Red-Footed Boobies (Sula sula) who raise their young at close quarters in the canopy of native tropical trees. Climbing stairs up to a platform, visitors can look out over the top of the canopy. It's hot, noisy, pungent and dynamic. Come with me on a brief photo-tour to get a taste of it :)
Red-Footed Boobies only come near land when they are breeding. This small island in Lighthouse Reef atoll, a Belize National Monument, is one of the few places to see them up close. Boobies, like the adult perched on this branch, are considerably outnumbered by Frigatebirds, who frequent harbors as well as the open sea. Both feed on squid and fish. Some of those circling Frigatebirds above the Booby are intent on fishing, some are juveniles practicing their flying, and some are waiting for Boobies to return from far off at sea with food for their nestlings. Frigatebirds engage in kleptoparasitism for a portion of their food, harassing other birds to give up their own catch.
There were many more Frigatebirds visible than Boobies in the colony. Very young Boobies are a downy white while fledglings are gray like this one.
(All photos by me. In Lightbox...click to enlarge)
I saw all stages of chicks of both species. Perhaps the tropical setting spreads out the breeding season.
Some Frigatebirds were just building nests. Note the tiny flimsy feet on this bird carrying in nesting material. Frigatebirds are much more at home in the air than perched.
Others kept close watch over their single egg or nestling. This pair switched out as I watched, the male (all black) arriving and settling in as the female (white breast) came off the nest and flew away. During this early stage, young are guarded constantly.
After 2 months incubation and 3 more months after hatching, the dads abandon the nest leaving the moms fully responsible for raising the youngster. This downy chick is not begging for food; his mom is way out at sea fishing. It's panting in the heat. Often birds here tuck their heads down, sleeping away the height of the tropical day. By 5-6 months after hatching the young fledge, although they don't go far. The feathered white-headed Frigatebirds are juveniles who will stay with their mothers for another year learning the ropes. This means male Frigatebirds can nest every year, but females no more often than every two years.
Both these species are generally quiet, but crowded together here there's a continuous prehistoric-sounding cacophony of clanking, grating, squawking. At times the interaction even gets violent. In the pictures below we can see one male Frigatebird on a nest being dive-bombed over and over by another. The red throat patch signals a breeding male and he is vigorously protecting his egg or chick, which would make a nice meal for another Frigatebird.
The two used their hooked beaks and 8-foot wingspans to spar. The breeding male prevailed, at least in the 20 minutes I watched. The drama between these huge birds did not go unnoticed by the juvenile Frigatebirds and Boobies nearby, who squawked and ducked.
The red-flowered trees are Ziricotes, and along with many other native trees and shrubs, form a dense short forest that is also home to a variety of smaller birds, iguanas, hermit crabs and other tropical wildlife. Native forests like this are much less common these days after centuries of development, hardwood extraction and introduction of invasive species. In fact half of this caye was cleared for a palm plantation. As our boat departed Halfmoon Caye, you can see in the last photo how the left side is sparse palms while the right side is dense native forest, with the nesting colony.
A bit of backyard Belize nature for the bucket today, nesting drama in the tropics.
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