Abbott's Booby (Papasula abbotti) WWF MAXICARDS from CHRISTMAS ISLAND, in the Indian Ocean

"Abbott’s Booby (Papasula abbotti) is a large endangered seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae. Found normally only on and around Christmas Island (an Australian territory in the eastern Indian Ocean), it is the sole living member of the monotypic genus Papasula. This species is named for William Louis Abbott who discovered it on Assumption Island in 1892". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbott%27s_Booby. [MY NOTE] He made the correct Assumption that this was a new species to science.

"Much of the breeding habitat of the Abbott’s Booby was destroyed by phosphate mining in the 1960s and 1970s^[5] and it is classified as Endangered. The population is estimated to be about 3000 birds and decreasing. On Christmas Island, threats include cyclones, degradation of breeding habitat and Yellow Crazy Ants. Offshore potential threats are overfishing and marine pollution."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbott%27s_Booby

Territory of Christmas Island
Flag
Anthem: Advance Australia Fair
Capital (and largest city)		Flying Fish Cove("The Settlement")
Official language(s)		English (de facto)
Ethnic groups		70% Chinese, 20%European, 10%Malay
Demonym		Christmas Islanders
Government		Federal constitutional monarchy
-	Queen of Australia	Elizabeth II
-	Governor-General of theCommonwealth of Australia	Quentin Bryce
-	Administrator	Brian Lacy
-	Shire President	Gordon Thomson
Territory of Australia
-	Sovereignty transferred to Australia	1957
Area
-	Total	135 km2 52 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	2009 estimate	1,402[1] (220th)
-	Density	10.39/km2 (n/a) 26.96/sq mi

"Christmas Island is of immense value as it was uninhabited until the late 19th century, so many unique species of fauna and flora exist which have evolved independently of human interference. Two-thirds of the island has been declared a National Park which is managed by the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage through Parks Australia."

"The annual red crab mass migration (around 100 million animals) to the sea to spawn has been called one of the wonders of the natural world^[35] and takes place each year around November; after the start of the wet season and in synchronisation with the cycle of the moon."

A railway powerhouse, #1 in the world?

"An 18 km standard gauge railway from Flying Fish Cove to the phosphate mine was constructed in 1914. It was closed in December 1987, when the Australian Government closed the mine, but remains largely intact. Because of its very small population size [1,403], Christmas Island has the longest railway per capita in the world, more than 100 times of the average length."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island

http://christmas.net.au/experiences/red-crab-migration.html

You saw, in my MAXICARDS above, glimpses of the blue skies of Christmas Island - it's Christmas every day!

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Happy Blue Monday! (meme)

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