{"id":16896,"date":"2018-06-25T08:48:54","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T12:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=16896"},"modified":"2018-06-25T08:48:54","modified_gmt":"2018-06-25T12:48:54","slug":"barbuda-sees-a-comeback-of-national-bird-after-hurricane-irma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/barbuda-sees-a-comeback-of-national-bird-after-hurricane-irma\/","title":{"rendered":"Barbuda sees a comeback of national bird after Hurricane Irma"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Gemma Handy St John’s, Antigua (BBC)<\/p>

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Hurricane Irma did not just wipe out homes, infrastructure and livelihoods when\u00a0it tore through the Caribbean island of Barbuda last September<\/a>. The category five storm also wreaked havoc on the habitat of the tiny island’s world-famous frigatebird colony.<\/p>\n

Codrington Lagoon is said to be the second-largest nesting area outside the Galapagos and has attracted tourists for decades.<\/p>

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\"TouristsImage copyright<\/span>COURTESY OF ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY<\/span><\/span>
Image caption<\/span>Tourists and bird watchers were drawn to the lagoon because of its rich birdlife<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But most of the erstwhile 10,000-strong frigatebird population disappeared in the immediate aftermath of the disaster when the catastrophic winds destroyed the mangroves in which they nest and breed.<\/p>

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The aptly named magnificent frigatebirds are famed for their colossal 7ft (2.1m) wingspan and the males’ spectacular show of flirting by puffing out their throats into a bright red balloon during mating season.<\/p>\n

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Frigatebirds:<\/h2>\n
\"AImage copyright<\/span>SHAYNA BRODY, WAITT INSTITUTE<\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n