@kure.atoll: Male ʻIwa (Great Frigatebird) in full display! ❤️ This bright red balloon is a gular pouch, inflated by male ʻiwa during breeding season to attract a mate. As they call and drum their wings, females circle overhead, choosing the most impressive display. Known in Hawaiian as ʻiwa, meaning “thief,” these seabirds are notorious for harassing other birds mid-air until they drop their catch — a behavior called kleptoparasitism. ʻIwa are also skilled hunters, flying low over the ocean to snatch flying fish as they break the surface, or fish and squid swimming just centimeters below it. With a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet (over 2 meters), they can soar for days without landing. Fun fact: ʻIwa can’t land on water because their feathers aren’t waterproof — life in the sky is their specialty! #hōlanikū #kureatoll #papahānaumokuākea #nationalmarinesanctuary #seabird #kureatollconservancy #hawaiinonprofit

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2026-02-10 20:31:13

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