Looking for a Catamaran Cruising Blog?

If you found this blog via a link from a cruising site ~ we did cruise Mexico on our Ocean 49 cat for a season. See the first text box on the right for links to our preparations, trip down Baja, life in Mexico, cruising and trip back up to SoCal. Unfortunately we are back to the grind in the USA...

Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Frigatebirds

Per Wikipedia:
"The frigatebirds are a family, Fregatidae, of seabirds. There are five species in the single genus Fregata. They are also sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds. Since they are related to the pelicans, the term "frigate pelican" is also a name applied to them. They have long wings, tails and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate.

Frigatebirds are pelagic piscivores which obtain most of their food on the wing. A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds, a behaviour that has given the family its name, and by snatching seabird chicks.

The Magnificent Frigatebird is 100 cm (39 inches) long with a 215 cm (85 inch) wingspan. Males are all black with a scarlet throat pouch which is inflated like a balloon in the breeding season. Although the feathers are black, the scapular feathers are iridescent and produce a purple colour when they refract sunlight. Females are black, but have a white breast and lower neck sides, a brown band on the wings and a blue eye ring. Immature birds have a white head and underparts.

These birds do not swim and cannot walk well, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs."


They should add to this "or masts".
...landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs or masts.I actually saw two of these mast-sitting today...
Luckily not on my boat!

And I would have to disagree with Wikipedia's statement of: "A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds".
I think it should say "A HUGE amount of their diet... blah blah blah".
We always see them tormenting other birds and stealing their food.
They are so cool to watch though!
They are amazing "thermal riders".

And when I read the statment: "Immature birds have a white head and underparts".
I mis-read or have dirty contact lenses as I read: "Immature birds have a white head and underpants".
Underpants?
Since when do birds wear underpants, so then I went back and re-read it.
It's all good.
As long as it is not my mast.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

This One is For You Stan!

These are some of our neighbors in Marina de La Paz.
If Stan was here, he would be friends with both of these guys.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

What to do with watermelon when your husband does not eat fruit...

Watermelon martinis of course!The second batch were watermelon margaritas ~ I liked the martinis better.
And what to go with the martinis?
Dorado (mahi mahi) that the guys caught!And giant "ripe when you buy them" tomatoes!Here is our pet pelican who sits on the cleat behind our boat and keeps an eye on Jim's fishing poles in hopes of a handout.Seems he would be more comfortable sitting on the wood where he wouldn't have to balance in the breeze...