Christmas frigatebird  (Fregata andrewsi)

Threats

Habitat destruction and human predation have been the major causes of population decline in the past (6); dust pollution from phosphate mine driers caused one major nesting site to be abandoned (4). Dust suppression equipment has since been installed and human predation has ceased since this species has been protected (4). Birds that have been displaced in the past may now be using sub-optimal habitat, which could pose a threat to their survival (4). The Christmas frigatebird is confined to a few breeding colonies on a single island and this, together with their low reproductive rate (4), makes the population alarmingly vulnerable to any chance event.

Conservation

Christmas Island National Park was established in 1989 and contains two of the three current breeding populations (5). Christmas frigatebirds are also protected outside of the park and by Migratory Bird Agreements between Australia and other countries (4). This species remains highly vulnerable however, and the close monitoring of breeding success and population size remains a high priority (4).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
left