I am a frigate bird. I live in Anegada where I rule
the sea and air. Do you see that faint outline of an island on the
Horizon? That's Virgin Gorda. Bunches of tourists visit come
from there to visit my domain. This is the pose I use to show them how
majestic I am. Take a look at my wing span. I was made to soar
on the updrafts of paradise. All those tourists are jealous of how
beautiful I am. I feel sorry for them because they are earthbound;
they never get to see what I see and do what I can do.
This is my scary pose. My talons and hooked beak are ready for action.
My feathers are quivering in the trade wind as I prepare to make a
power dive. When fish look up in the heavens and see me looking down,
they start yelling dive, dive dive! They aren't talking to me.
They are talking to each other, because they are my lunch, and if they don't
do their own power dive into the depths of the lagoon, they will have a new
home in my stomach. Yummy.
Sometimes I'm not interested in being majestic or scary. Instead, I go
for the cool look. I'm just cruising above the ripples with a smile on
my face. You probably can't see my smile, but it's there. I'm so
glad that I'm a frigate bird and that I can be cool.
This is my contortionist athletic pose. You'll notice that I'm doing
two things at the same time. I'm flying straight ahead with perfect
form in my wings ( a perfect 10) and at the same time picking up fish out of
the water. When I compete in the World Frigate Bird Olympics, this is
the pose that will win me a gold medal.
Rats. I dropped the stupid fish. I hope no one saw me drop it.
That could destroy the cool and athletic image that I have been striving so
hard to cultivate. You human dudes aren't the only ones who have to
impress the chicks.
We all have this inexplicable desire to leave a legacy, and this is how I
want to be remembered. Master and Commander of Anegada - Ruler of the
Air and Sea. That's not too much to ask.
OK - LET'S GET REAL. FRIGATE BIRDS DON'T THINK LIKE HUMANS, AND SO ALL
THESE CAPTIONS ARE ONLY NONSENSE.
Frigate birds are lucky because they don't have to waste their time thinking
silly thoughts about how cool they are, and they don't have to make majestic
poses or project an image that will be loved by all. There are plenty
of chicks to go around, so they don't have to worry about the chicks either.
They don't worry about keeping score, and they have no legacy to create and
no titles to defend.
They simply have a wing to mouth existence, and if humans don't destroy
them, they will live long and prosper.
As for me, I think frigate birds are cool, and I want to be more like them.
I will soar on the updrafts of God's love. Like them, I've got no
worries about being cool or projecting an image that will be loved by all.
I am what I am, and if it's good enough for God, it's good enough for me.
And as for legacy, that's a burden that I will leave to politicians and the
rich and famous.
Right now, I have a date with my friends the frigate birds. They're
going soaring, and I'm going sailing. Life is good.
