File:McKean BirdColony AKK.jpg

Summary

Colony of Lesser Frigate Birds (Fregata ariel) on McKean Island, Phoenix Islands, Kiribati.

Original field notes: Dominant vegetation is puncture vine (Tribulus cistoides), an extremely spiny vine which punctures not only bare feet but shoes as well! The 3-sided seeds, with tough, needle-like thorns, are adapted to attaching to bird feathers and thus effecting seed dissemination between islands. Here we have another wonderful Lesser Frigatebird colony: in the 1960's (last censuses) nos. ranged from 30,000-35,000 pairs, which makes this the largest colony in the world, along with a similar colony on nearby Phoenix Island (16,000-45,000 prs)

Copyright status:

public domain

Source:

http://www.pbif.org/WebGallery/Default.aspx?directory=2204&action=View&storedaction=SearchFiles&sortorder=Ascending&dirsortorder=Ascending&file=1418&page=38&search=McKean