The fledging period for a young magnificent frigatebird is about 22 weeks. Unlike most birds, they do not like “flying the coop.” In fact, they stick around the nest longer than any other bird. They remain dependent on their mother for food and care for 10 to 12 months after hatching. Most of a juveniles’ day is spent standing around the nest waiting for the next meal from mom. Sound familiar? Occasionally you will see two juveniles play a game of tag with sticks. They practice snatching it from each other. This skill will help them steal food from other birds when they become an adult.
