Log In

Reset Password

Stray Magnificent Frigatebird spotted; believed in danger from tangled fishing line

This Magnificent Frigatebird has been spotted flying about the Island in recent days and is thought to have been blown into the area in the wake of Tropical Storm Debbie. Concern has been raised after it was spotted with fishing line entangled about its body.

A Magnificent Frigatebird blown to Bermuda by Tropical Storm Debby has run into trouble with some leftover fishing line.Audubon Society president Andrew Dobson appealed to the public to dispose properly of unwanted fishing line after seeing a photo of the giant seabird.“Rather alarmingly, a photo taken by Audubon member Tim White at Coney Island shows that the frigatebird is entangled in discarded fishing line,” Mr Dobson said. “This may seriously affect the survival of this bird.”The frigatebird was first spotted on June 29 in Hamilton Harbour by Audubon Society member Alison Copeland, and has since been seen around the Island. According to Mr Dobson, the bird is not an annual visitor to Bermuda and “with a 7ft wingspan, it is one of the largest birds to grace our skies”.Frigatebirds mainly eat fish, sometimes attacking other seabirds to force them to disgorge their meals.They never land on water, instead catching their food while in flight.