Just saw this on stuff: https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/102227283/rare-frigatebird-recovering-at-auckland-bird-rescue-centre
Green Bay NZ Bird Rescue Centre in West Auckland is rehabilitating a young lesser frigatebird. So, who's going to try to tag along and tick it when it's released in the gulf...?
Phil
Frigatebird in care in Auckland
- philbattley
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
According to Matt Rayner, who has now seen it, it is not a lesser as it is too large. Opinions welcome on what species it is.
cheers
Alan
cheers
Alan
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
Hi Alan,
Well if it isn't a Lesser FB, then it sort of has to be a Great FB. I don't think there is anything in the photo to suggest that it isn't either one. Perhaps they should look under it's wings?
cheers
Well if it isn't a Lesser FB, then it sort of has to be a Great FB. I don't think there is anything in the photo to suggest that it isn't either one. Perhaps they should look under it's wings?
cheers
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
Great to see the underwing, thanks Oscar - there has been some discussion about whether it could be a Christmas frigatebird.
Alan
Alan
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
Thanks for the photo Oscar, but I don't know that this one shot actually helps much. I for one can't see what is really showing except that it may not be a Lesser FB.
How cool if it were a Christmas FB. But seriously? I know that birds fly, and don't read the text books, but the nearest record appears to be from Darwin........I'd love to be proved wrong.
A tape measure on the bill would seem to be the quickest way to discriminate.
cheers
How cool if it were a Christmas FB. But seriously? I know that birds fly, and don't read the text books, but the nearest record appears to be from Darwin........I'd love to be proved wrong.
A tape measure on the bill would seem to be the quickest way to discriminate.
cheers
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
I have sent them a message via Facebook asking that they measure the bill length and told them that:
Lesser FB bill length range is 79 - 93 mm
Christmas FB bill length range is 131 - 157 mm
Will report back once they reply.
Lesser FB bill length range is 79 - 93 mm
Christmas FB bill length range is 131 - 157 mm
Will report back once they reply.
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
How do they know what the optimal release weight is if the dont even know what species they have? Think the underwing tells you very little with these immatures. Think all NZ records of immature FB should probably be thrown out unless there is a specimen or really good photos.
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
I just spoke to one of their people and they say the bill length measurement is between 90 and 95mm, which would fit Great FB (92-108mm range), and the bird's weight is currently 816g, which is within the weight range of both Lesser and Great but not the published weight range of Christmas Is FB (1.2 - 1.7kg). Apparently it weighed between 400g and 500g when it was first taken into care in late Feb.
They have sent a blood sample to Massey to work out if it has an infection and what the sex of the bird is. They also said they will try to organise getting a more detailed set of morphometric measurements to help determine the species ID - and once they have that, to work out what the optimal release weight should be.
They have sent a blood sample to Massey to work out if it has an infection and what the sex of the bird is. They also said they will try to organise getting a more detailed set of morphometric measurements to help determine the species ID - and once they have that, to work out what the optimal release weight should be.
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
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Re: Frigatebird in care in Auckland
So it maybe a male immature or juvenile Greater. Juvenile greaters average about 942g on Kirimati according to the Schreibers (if it was a lesser it would now be rather obese). They have done a great job getting it up to weight but its time to let it go.