Lisianski 
Great Frigatebird 
Breeding Distribution Data 
May 1923-: A number have nests in which the single egg is laid on the 
summit of a tussock of grass without other nesting material. 
i 
March 1915-: Whenever the island afforded enough bushlikp growth for the 
Frigatpbird to construct its nest they were seen nesting in 
collnies. There were three of these colonies. At the north 
end of the island the colony consisted of about 1,000 birds; 
on the northeast .shore about 1, 200 birds, and the th±±d, 
located near the house in the central part of the island 
, about 800 birds. Others were found scattered, usually alongshore, 
where a few dead or dying bushes afforded aperch on which 
to roost. The total number, however, would not exceed 3?500. 
Feb-Mar 1963 -: Starting to nest in Scaevola . f . shore along the southeastern 
side® there are many figatebirds along here in Scaevola. 
late August 1964--: Besting in Scaevola mainly on the southern half of the island. 
madly March 1965--: Besting and roosting widely scattered both resting and n4esting 
on Scaevola bushes. Small colonies occurred in almost all small 
groups of Scaevola. 
There was a tendency for nesting congregations but nests were 
found over most of the Scaevola area 
i -——- 
Besting birds occurred throughout the Scaevola association but 
most nests were in the northern half of the island. Most birds 
seen on the southern half were Roosting. Both roosting and nesting 
birds occurred int he scattered patches of Scaevola in the interior 
and each Casuarina tree held a few roosting frigates. 
324 local or immature frigatebirds were seen clinging ot the 
Scaevola on 18 October. 
All nests in Scaevola I5 ,f to 34 H high. Best diameter 12 v - l8 ¥ 
Construction almost exclusively of Tribulus with occasional 
pieces of Portulaca and Boerhavia. A few immatures seen 
in the interior el perched on Scaevola . 
early June 1967 -: Besting was entirely in Scaevola with the nesting concentration 
around the northeast corner of the island. Dave Burchalter ^ 
conducted a study oti nesting material used, height off the 
ground, and age of the chick..... These birds were all found 
nesting in the Scaevola bushes.. 
(Burchhalter notes) 
Height of nests: 1 foot -- 10 0 10 
20 5 25 
4 12 16 
Best materials Scaevola: 54/54 
Tribulus: 50/54 
Ipomea : l /50 
wlidcuc : 6/54 
Aug-Sept. 1967 --: Great Frigatebirds were found roosting and m sting on Scaevola 
whereever it occurred on the island but appeared to be 
somewhat more common at the southeast and northeast corners 
of the island. Ely noted that the non-breeding birds were 
roosting in groups segregated by sex. One small group (about 
4-10 birds)'would be entirely composed of adult males, while 
another small group, a short distance away would be composed 
solely of females. 1 
mid-July 1965 -■—: 
mid-June 1966 -s 
mid-October 1966 ---: 
late 
March 1967 - - : 
