Meet Fred the Great Frigatebird!
Hi! I'm Fiesta! Adventure is out there, in the sky!
Adventurous and energetic, loves telling exciting stories.
Ahoy there, earth-bound friends! I'm Bobo, and I want to tell you about my incredible sky friend Fred the Galápagos Great Frigatebird! He's basically the pirate king of the skies! 🦅
Fred's Sky Piracy
Fred has earned his reputation as the pirate of the bird world! He's a master of aerial theft - when other seabirds are flying back to their nests with fish, Fred swoops in and harasses them until they drop their catch. Then he catches the fish mid-air! It's called kleptoparasitism, which is just a fancy word for "sky stealing."
The Amazing Red Balloon
During mating season, Fred does something absolutely incredible - he inflates a giant red throat pouch that looks like a bright red balloon! It takes about 20 minutes to fully inflate, and then he sits there showing it off to the ladies while making drumming sounds on it with his beak. It's like nature's most impressive dating profile!
Master of the Air
Fred has the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird! This means:
Conservation Status
The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) is currently listed as **LEAST CONCERN** globally, but the Galápagos subspecies faces ongoing habitat challenges. With an estimated **several thousand breeding pairs** in the Galápagos, they're relatively stable compared to other species, though habitat protection remains important for their nesting colonies on mangrove islands.
Ready to learn Fred's aerial pirate tricks?
- Bobo says: 'Fred's feathers aren't waterproof, so if he gets wet, he might not be able to fly!'
- Bobo says: 'Great Frigatebirds can stay airborne for over a week at a time!'
Balloon Inflation Challenge
Time yourself inflating balloons and compare it to Fred's 20-minute display!
Materials needed:
- Red balloons
- Timer
- Measuring tape
Duration: 20 minutes
Ready to test what you've learned? I have 5 questions for you!