Saw a Frigate Bird Sunday at Ship Island

[Rocketman]

My Brother-in-Law pointed it out to me, gliding in low amogst the seagulls. He said' "You see that? It's a Frigate Bird. We got a storm coming." I'd never heard of this, and what do you know, we've got a TS 4 days later. We both grew up here, but I'd never heard of such a thing. My co-worker this morning who had many years in the Coast Guard also knew aobut this. He said Frigate Birds aren't normally seen here on the northern GOM, so to see one is worth noting.

Just thought I'd pass that on, my bro-in-law has his chest puffed out today

[wxcrazytwo]

My Brother-in-Law pointed it out to me, gliding in low amogst the seagulls. He said' "You see that? It's a Frigate Bird. We got a storm coming." I'd never heard of this, and what do you know, we've got a TS 4 days later. We both grew up here, but I'd never heard of such a thing. My co-worker this morning who had many years in the Coast Guard also knew aobut this. He said Frigate Birds aren't normally seen here on the northern GOM, so to see one is worth noting.

Just thought I'd pass that on, my bro-in-law has his chest puffed out today

Hey if the animals in sumatra can sense a tsunami, I believe the firgate bird.

[PerfectStorm]

This past weekend we saw several frigate birds while at our condo on St Pete Beach. I live in tampa and they are scarcely seen (about 1 per summer), however, I have heard plenty of yarns spun about frigate birds and approaching tropical activity. I have also heard that the more you see in the GOM, FL ATL, the more likely the heavier storm season. Just some brain candy, no science to back this up. But the critters do know. Also, the turtles down in the FL Bay area are nesting higher than they were last year at this time. Sea turtles seem to have a keen awareness of bad tropical seasons.

Jason
Tampa

[GalvestonDuck]

Just thought I'd pass that on, my bro-in-law has his chest puffed out today

Just like a frigate bird, huh?

[Agua]

Is this what you saw?

I've never heard of the tale nor the bird.

[melhow]

You know, we saw TWO last Sunday in the Gulf. My dad pointed them out to me, as I had never seen one. He mentioned that they were pretty rare to see where we were, but that he had seen a bunch in his youth when he was in the merchant marine.

We were fishing appx 10 miles offshore due west of Indian Rocks Beach.

[Steve]

Me either. I was thinking maybe it was a local name for an Albatross but apparently it's in our region's folklore, not something I'm ever quick to dismiss.

Steve

[TreasureIslandFLGal]

2 weeks ago, before last week's rainy days, the gulf temp hit 88 or 89 degrees. It cooled again after the rain, but is already back up to 89 off treasure island. Do these birds follow fish schools that stay in the warm waters? -possibly our extra warm water has brought them around early? I saw one last night off Sunset beach and thought it was odd as I hadn't seen them close to shore before...just out deep-sea fishing occasionally.

And yes, the turtles have nested higher on shore this year.

Pretty cool indicators to try and validate their predictive worth at the end of the season.

[Rocketman]

Is this what you saw?

I've never heard of the tale nor the bird.

That's him alright

btw, Kevin, there very well may be more in your area....I'm told they're not as common here