Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ) 
Current status : Breeds annually 
Prior Records : Munro (l94l) saw this species off Nihoa May 26- 27 , 1891 . 
Woodside and Kramer (l96l) saw them on Nihoa on March 2, 1961. Other records 
are Fisher ( 1906 ), Munter ( 1915 ), Wetmore ( 1923 ), Vanderbilt and de Schauensee 
(1941), Kramer ( 1961 ), Kramer and Beardsley ( 1962 ). 
Population: Fisher (op. cit) reported this species abundant June 1-2 and 
August 5-10, 1902. Munter (op. cit) estimated 50,000 present on March 18, 
1915. Wetmore (op. cit) estimated 600 pairs present during his visit from 
11-16 June 1925. Kramer (op. cit) considered them to be very abundant on his 
trip December 10-15, 19 6l. 
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The P0BSP tsip* of March 6, 1963 estimated 10,000 present. The t-rrp of 
September 23-24, 1964 estimated 6,000 and the t-rip of March 24, 1965 estimated 
5,200 birds present. 
Reproduction : These birds build a platform nest on the top of low bushes, 
primarily Chenopodium. Nesting density is greatest on the lower slopes of 
the island, conforming to the available nesting habitat,Munter (op. cit) 
and Vanderbilt and de Schauensee (op. cit). 
Munter (op. cit) reported nests with eggs on March l8, 1915* Wetmore 
(op. cit) reported nestlings from newly hatched to half-grown in June 11-16, 
I 923 . Vanderbilt and de Schauensee (op. cit) recorded nearly fledged nestlings 
August 7 - 15 , 1940. Kramer and Beardsley (op. cit) found, half-grown nestlings 
on June 10, 1962 . 
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The P0BSP trip of March 6, 1964 estimated 
4800 nests, 10 with nestlings. 
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Egg laying was still in progress. The of September 23-24, 1964 counted 
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I 67 large nestlings. The trip of March 24, 1965 estimated 2,500 nests with 
eggs. 
The three records above, of eggs laid in March, indicate that the Nihoa 
