Travel When we visited the rookery by boat before the frigates left for the summer, we approached silently to avoid disturbing them. Busy with courting, they paid no attention to us. The scarlet-chested birds resembled red ornaments on an overly decorated Christmas tree. (Male frigates inflate their red breast pouches to attract females.)We watched one male huff and puff and blow himself up to attract the attention of a white-headed female. His ballooned-out crimson breast forced back his head and beak. We wondered if he would explode. A cacophony of the males’ guttural clicks and females’ high-pitched squawks permeated the sultry air. Some of the black-plumed birds launched themselves from the springy branches. They glided over the colony, with ruby pouches dangling from their necks like partially deflated balloons. While they can dive for fish with pinpoint accuracy, these aerial pirates prefer to ambush other water birds in mid-air. As each victim drops its catch in panic, the frigate swoops down to retrieve the meal before it hits water. (Their plundering habits have gained them the nickname: man-o’-war birds.) The Barbuda Express ferry service, which traditionally operated day tours fromAntigua to the frigate colony and pink-sand beaches, is temporarily assisting with hurricane recovery projects. But Barbuda’s current situation shouldn’t defer vacations to Antigua. Because tourism is the islands’ economic engine, trips to Antigua will bring inmuch-needed revenue for rebuilding Barbuda. “The best way to help our islands, as we return to normal, is for visitors to continue with their vacation plans or make plans to visit us soon to experience first-hand the warmth and hospitality of our people,” said Tourism Minister Asot Michael. It’s gratifying to know that you can help just by having fun on vacation. Resources For more information, visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com. Barb & Ron Kroll publish the trip-planning website www.KrollTravel.com. He huffed and he puffed Male frigates inflate their red breast pouches in the mangroves at Codrington Lagoon National Park in Barbuda CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 27
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