The Abbott’s booby can only be found on Christmas Island and in the upper terrace forests of the north coast. They prefer tall trees in the plateau forests. Their foraging range extends to about 62 miles off the coast of Christmas Island, but can extend much farther. Due to the fact that there are only about 6,000 remaining, they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN. They face the threats of habitat destruction, overfishing, invasive species (like the yellow crazy ants that attack chicks), pollution, and climate change.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Papasula abbotti
Weight: Up to 3.3 lbs.
Length: Up to 31 inches
Wingspan: Up to 6 feet
Lifespan: Up to 40 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) William Louis Abbott, an American naturalist, collected the first specimen from Assumption Island in 1892.
2.) Robert Ridgway described the species in 1893.
3.) These boobies are solitary, if not in a mated pair.
4.) Due to their large size, these birds need a large area to take off from.
5.) If an individual falls from a tree, it will starve to death if it is unable to climb high enough to catch a strong head wind, in order to take off.
But wait, there’s more on the Abbott’s booby!
6.) These birds feed on various fish and squid.
7.) These boobies are monogamous (mate for life).
Did you know…?
Abbott’s boobies not only mate for life, but they also use the same nesting site for their whole life.
8.) Females lay a single egg every 2 – 3 years.
9.) Chicks are fed via complete regurgitation for the first 2 weeks, then followed by incomplete regurgitation after that, till they are weened at about 200 days. Both parents take part in feeding the young.
10.) Boobies are diurnal (active during the day).
Now a Short Abbott’s Booby Video!
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