The Ascension Frigatebird (Fregata aquila) breeds only on the tiny Boatswainbird Island near Ascension Island in the tropical Atlantic. It formally bred on the larger island, but was exterminated by introduced cats, Brown Rats and human persecution.
It breeds on the rocky slopes of its breeding island. There may be of the order of 10,000 birds. As with other frigatebirds its movements when not breeding are little known because of identification problems within this difficult group, but it occurs off west Africa.
It feeds on fish and similar surface prey such as small turtles.
Identification
This species is very similar to the other frigatebirds and is similarly sized to all but Lesser Frigatebird. It has a white axillary spur, and juveniles show a white head, and a distinctly white hind neck with no reddish_brown hue. It has a brown breast band.
AscensionFrigatebirdFregata aquila breeds only on the tiny Boatswainbird Island[?] near Ascension Island in the tropical Atlantic.
As with other frigatebirds its movements when not breeding are little known because of identification problems within this difficult group, but it occurs off west Africa.
A frigatebird found moribund in 1953 in Tiree[?], Scotland was identified at the time as Magnificent Frigatebird was re-examined in 2002 and found to be an AscensionFrigatebird.
Ascension Island lies in splendid isolation, just south of the equator, in the middle of the Atlantic.
The local voluntary conservation organisation is the Ascension Heritage Society.
The main threats to the island's conservation interests are twofold: public ignorance or disinterest in the value of Ascension’s biodiversity; and spread of introduced species, particularly mesquite thorn, cats and rats.
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