Day 53: November 24, 2024 – Barbuda

Best birdwatching experience ever. That’s what I had today, on the island of Barbuda.

Antigua & Barbuda is the full name of a country named after its two main islands, 38 miles apart. Our ship docked in the Antiguan port of St. John. But I had heard there was a well-known frigatebird reserve on its sister island of Barbuda, so I immediately hopped on a ferry to find it. The 90-minute ferry ride was a bit rough, with very choppy waters; I was happy I had my anti-nausea Relief Band with me (thanks Kathy!) After the ferry, I hired a private boat driver to take me to the reserve in his small boat. (With help from a kind local stranger who helped me find my way on this sparsly populated island).

The reserve felt like my own private Disneyland. There were thousands of gorgeous Magnificent Frigatebirds gliding overhead, sitting in every tree, and performing their mating rituals.

I had seen frigatebirds before in Key West, Florida, but only from a distance. I had never been close enough to photograph their stunning red throat sacs. During mating season, the males inflate the sacs so they look like giant red balloons. Then they show them off to females gliding overhead, drumming the sacs and clicking their beaks to attract their attention.

Some of the sacs were so big they obscured the entire bird.

A female feeds her chick regurgitated food from her beak.

Their 6-8-foot wingspan earned them the name “condors of the ocean.” They can remain airborne for up to a month without needing to touch land.

Ironically, though they are seabirds, they never go in the water. They are the only seabirds whose wings are not waterproof. They pluck fish (often flying fish) from the surface of the water without diving in.

If they fall in the water accidentally, they have trouble getting back up. That’s what happened to this male, who was spread out on the water and unable to fly when we pulled up. My guide lifted him out of the lagoon and got him back up in the air.

My very knowledgeable boat driver & guide, Pat, is now part of the Faces of the World gallery.