Local News

Frigate birds

FIRST PHOTO: A flock of iwa, or great frigatebirds, spirals above a Wailea Emerald Golf Course pond Wednesday morning, while taking turns drifting down to scoop drinks of water without stopping. The seagoing birds with wingspans of up to 8 feet are known for stealing food from other aquatic birds by harassing them until they regurgitate recent catches. Able to stay aloft for weeks and to ride updrafts up to altitudes of 12,000 feet, they are unique among aquatic birds for not having waterproof feathers, which makes them unable to land in water.

SECOND & THIRD PHOTO: An iwa, or great frigatebird, scoops a drink of water in Wailea Wednesday.