"These southern species of water birds can be pushed for hundreds to thousands of miles until they find proper wetlands and harbors to put down in. In the case of a hurricane, even strong flying and powerful birds like frigatebirds can get wrapped up in swirling winds and excessive rain," she said. "They can stay aloft in these powerful winds, either in the storm or ahead of it, for hundreds to thousands of miles. They look for large bodies of water to drop down to."