Overview:

The Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Antigua-and-Barbuda is a protected bird sanctuary located on the Caribbean island of Barbuda. It is home to one of the world’s largest populations of Magnificent Frigatebirds. These majestic birds soar over the island, captivating visitors with their vibrant plumage and energy. The sanctuary covers over 160 acres and is a haven for many other bird species, including Audubon’s Shearwaters, Brown Pelicans, and Royal Terns. Barbuda’s Frigate Bird Sanctuary truly is a treasure for bird watchers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda
Prominent Features:

The Frigate Bird Sanctuary is the only large breeding colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Caribbean. Located in the mangrove-covered Bird Island off the northeastern coast of Antigua-and-Barbuda, the sanctuary is a major tourist attraction and provides invaluable protection for the species. Most of the sanctuary is accessible by boat, and the area can be toured in about an hour. Visitors to the sanctuary can observe the skittish birds up-close as they soar and screech above them and nest on the low-lying branches. In addition to the frigate birds, thousands of other seabirds (including boobies, herons, pelicans and terns) can also be seen on Bird Island. The area is of particular interest to birdwatchers, providing them with a unique chance to observe a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary is a protected area, and all visitors must adhere to the strict rules and guidelines created to ensure optimum conditions for the birds' survival. This includes strict rules governing the minimum distance between boats and the birds during observation, and a ban on feeding and disturbing the birds in any way. Despite the restrictions, visitors to the sanctuary can expect a truly unique experience. With its remarkable wildlife, pristine natural setting and unparalleled opportunity to observe majestic frigate birds up close, the Frigate Bird Sanctuary is an essential stop for anyone visiting Antigua-and-Barbuda. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda.

History:

The Frigate Bird Sanctuary was established in 1965 after the discovery of the magnificent frigatebird on Great Frigate Bird Island. The island is located off the southeast coast of Antigua-and-Barbuda and became the nation’s first national park. The waters around the island are within the territorial sea limits of Antigua-and-Barbuda and an area of about 700 ha has been established as the Frigate Bird Sanctuary. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary is an important sanctuary dedicated to the protection of frigatebirds, which are a species of seabirds that are jointly threatened both across their range and on the island. As many of the other species found on the island, the magnificent frigatebird, also known as the Man O’ War or the Great Frigate Bird, is listed on the Tropicos list of endangered species. The sanctuary provides a safe refuge for the birds from overfishing and human related disturbances, such as plastic pollution and maritime pollution. The Great Frigate Bird Nesting Colony was initially established in 1965 under the management of the Antiguan National Park Commission. The Sanctuary provides one of the few protected areas in the Caribbean region for the breeding of frigatebirds. The Sanctuary encompasses over 700ha of sea and land area, with mainly surrounded by coral reefs and mangroves. The Sanctuary also hosts many other species of seabirds, including sooty terns, masked boobies, laughing gulls, hermit crabs, reed warblers, noddy terns, tropicbirds, brown boobies and red-billed tropicbirds. There are also spectacular nesting seabird colony sites, including the Great Frigate Bird Sanctuary, Green Island and the offshore cays. The Great Frigate Bird Sanctuary provides an important nesting area for the magnificent frigatebird. The Sanctuary is an important conservation site which provides habitat for more than 20 species of birds, including 10 species of threatened species. The Great Frigate Bird Sanctuary is therefore a protected area created to help maintain the species’s fragile population. Visit one of the famous monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary is located on the northeast side of Great Bird Island in English Harbour in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. 2. It is the largest frigate bird sanctuary in the entire Caribbean region and the only one of its kind in the Leeward Islands. 3. The sanctuary covers an area of more than 2 miles, encompassing several small islets. 4. It is home to over 5,000 frigate birds, among 10 other species of seabirds. 5. It is an Important Bird Area (IBA), important breeding site for seabirds, particularly Magnificent Frigatebirds. 6. It is estimated that around 20 percent of the global population of Magnificent Frigatebirds breed there. 7. It forms part of the South and East of Antigua Important Bird Area protected by the Antiguan Conservation Law. 8. The sanctuary serves as an important resting spot for other species of migratory birds. 9. Other species found in the sanctuary include Brown Boobies, Brown Noddies, Sooty-Terns, Noddies, and other tropical seabirds. 10. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary can best be seen by boat. Tourists can book a local guide to take them to the sanctuary and observe the birds in their natural habitat. One of the historical monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda, it tells the story of a bygone era