The Wandering Albatross ( Diomedea exulans): Carl Linnaeus first described the snowy albatross as Diomedea exulans in 1758, based on a Cape of Good Hope specimen. Diomedea refers to Diomedes from Greek mythology, whose companions turned to birds, and exulans or excel are Latin for “exile” or “wanderer,“ referring to its extensive flights.
Wandering Albatross captured on the Flock to Marion 2023, Photo: Alex Aitkenhead.
Birds have always fascinated humans with their incredible abilities and diverse characteristics. From the tiny hummingbird to the mighty eagle, our avian friends have carved their niche in our hearts. Among these magnificent creatures, albatrosses stand out as some of the most incredible birds on our planet. Known for their remarkable adaptations and behaviours, they continue to capture the imagination of bird enthusiasts and scientists alike. In this article, we’ll delve into the top 10 reasons albatrosses are extraordinary birds.
Wandering Albatross: “The Giant of the Southern Seas: The Wandering Albatross” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
1st Reason
Largest Wingspan: The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) holds the record for the largest wingspan of any living bird. With wingspans reaching up to 12 feet (3.6 meters), these majestic creatures can glide for thousands of miles. Their immense wings enable them to cover vast distances with minimal energy expenditure. These birds hardly ever flap their wings as they easily glide into hurricane-style strong winds and soar above the ocean.
Wandering Albatross: “Sunset Serenade: Albatross Couple’s Eternal Love” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
2nd Reason
Masterful Flyers: The best at flying dynamics. Albatrosses are exceptional flyers, spending most of their lives aloft. They use dynamic soaring, a technique that harnesses wind gradients near the ocean’s surface, to gain energy and maintain flight. One bird on this planet, the wandering albatross, has only mastered this method of extracting energy from a steady wind flow.
This energy-efficient method allows them to travel long distances without flapping their wings.
This method requires a steady wind over a large flat area, like a good-sized rocket range, or a large body of water, or a wandering albatross.
Wandering Albatross: “Master of Long Journeys: The Wandering Albatross in Solitude” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
3rd Reason
Lifelong Mariners: They do not touch land for the first ten years of their lives. These incredible birds are known for their oceanic wanderings. Albatrosses are frequently spotted hundreds of miles from land, soaring above the open sea. They’re perfectly adapted to life on the water, hunting for prey and spending years without setting foot on solid ground. They spend the first ten years of their lives on and above the ocean without setting foot on land. They can let one side of the brain sleep, allowing them to rest while in the air.
4th Reason
Monogamous Pairs: Albatrosses are known for forming strong, monogamous pairs that last for years or even a lifetime. These partnerships are a testament to their commitment to one another. They engage in intricate courtship dances to strengthen their bonds, displaying a remarkable sense of devotion. A single egg is laid, and both parents take turns incubating it for approximately 79-85 days. The chicks remain in the nest for around 280 days, relying on parental care until they fledge. This is known to be the longest incubation time for a single chick, forcing the parents to endure care over four very harsh seasons. Once an albatross fledges from its nest, it will only return to land ten years later to find a partner.
Like many other seabirds, albatrosses delay sexual maturity until at least age 5 and usually do not breed successfully until ages 8 – 10 years. Upon their first return to land, they will land in the most undignified way possible. Tumbling a few times over before coming to a halt is evident in their limited time spent on land. Often, a sight many a scientist will recall stands out as a memory best remembered when on research expeditions.
“The Giant of the Southern Seas: The Wandering Albatross” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
5th Reason
Mysterious Migrations: Albatrosses embark on some of the most extended migrations in the animal kingdom. They traverse the Southern Ocean, sometimes covering up to 10,000 miles in a single journey. Their ability to travel a distance equal to that of circumnavigating the earth is a marvel that continues to baffle scientists. With satellite tracking devices now demonstrating just how extensive their movements are, it is also noteworthy that young birds, males and females, follow different routes and forage in different parts of the oceans.
Wandering Albatross: “Love in the Southern Skies: The Wandering Albatross’ Ballad” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
6th Reason
Wisdom, the Oldest Living Bird: Laysan albatrosses, like Wisdom, have the potential to live a very long life. Wisdom, who resides on the Midway Atoll, has astounded researchers by living for more than seven decades.
Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg. These large seabirds aren’t known to breed before age five, which means Wisdom is at least 72 years old as of 2023!
She has been a symbol of hope for conservationists, emphasizing the importance of protecting these remarkable birds.
Wandering Albatross “Wings of Romance: Graceful Albatross in Flight” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
7th Reason
Majestic Courtship Rituals: Their love story defies the limitations of time and space as they traverse the endless oceans, their synchronized flight a testament to the power of love and the boundless beauty of the natural world. Albatross courtship displays are a sight to behold. These elaborate performances include synchronised head bobbing, beak clacking, and mutual preening. They convey the complex and beautiful courtship rituals that strengthen their bonds and demonstrate their dedication to their partners. They will mate and take care of their offspring well. Once they believe that their baby is ready to feed itself, they will leave the nest and not return. The fledgeling will be forced by starvation to throw itself over the steep cliffs and fly towards the open ocean. This youngster will not return to land for a decade. Most fledgelings return to their place of birth for courtship.
Wandering Albatross: “Love on the Wing: A Wandering Albatross Couple in Flight” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
8th Reason
Feeding Adaptations: Albatrosses have evolved unique feeding adaptations that allow them to capture prey efficiently. Their beaks have a specialized tube-like structure that lets them snatch food from the water’s surface. These tubes on their beaks filter out the salt and provide them with fresh water, giving them no reason to return to land. Their main prey is squid, and after they have slurped and gulped it up, they will open their wings and run along the water to enjoy an effortless take-off. This adaptation makes them highly effective predators in their oceanic environment.
This is the home range of a typical Wandering Albatross, the Southern Ocean, the roughest, stormiest ocean in the world.
GPS tracking of an Albatross in the Southern Ocean
Wandering Albatross: “In the Moonlight’s Embrace: A Romantic Albatross Soars” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
9th Reason
Vulnerable to Human Impact: Despite their remarkable adaptations, albatrosses face numerous threats from human activities. Historic research vessels travelling to these isolated islands often left a path of destruction. Leaving mice and cats behind on the islands. The invasive mice pose a significant threat to seabird islands. They feed on seabird eggs, chicks, and adult birds. The presence of mice disrupts the natural breeding cycles of seabirds and poses a severe conservation challenge, especially for the endangered Wandering Albatross. This caused disasters beyond our wildest imagination, leaving the breeding bird colonies in dire need of survival. The cats enjoyed an easy meal, but the mice were the biggest problem – to this day. They enjoy the warmth of the nested birds and eat the vulnerable baby birds alive. Many organisations have pledged to help stop this growing problem, and much funding and action is required to end the problem. Pollution, overfishing, and entanglement in fishing gear are also major concerns. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these extraordinary birds and preserve their habitats.
Wandering Albatross: Nomads of the Southern Ocean (Flock to Marion 2022)
Wandering Albatross approaches the MSC Orchestra off the stern. Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
10th Reason
A Symbol of the Open Ocean: Its pure white feathers, kissed by the sun, reflect a subtle iridescence that rivals the sparkle of distant stars. Every movement is poetry in motion as it navigates the currents with divine precision and effortless mastery of the vast expanse it calls home. Albatrosses, giant seabirds averaging 25 pounds in body weight, hold a special place in maritime folklore and literature. They are often seen as symbols of freedom and the open ocean. Their grace in flight and endurance in the harshest environments have inspired countless poets, writers, and sailors throughout history.
MFM Campaign Video from Mouse-Free Marion Project on Vimeo.
Wandering Albatross: “In the Moonlight’s Embrace: A Romantic Albatross Soars” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
Conclusion:
The Wandering Albatross is an awe-inspiring species that plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem. Efforts to protect and conserve their breeding sites, reduce bycatch, and mitigate the effects of climate change are imperative to ensure the survival of this magnificent seabird. Continued scientific research and conservation actions will contribute to a better understanding of their ecological requirements and aid in developing effective conservation strategies.
With their astonishing wingspans, unparalleled flying abilities, and mysterious migrations, Albatrosses truly are among the most incredible birds on our planet. Their lifelong partnerships, courtship rituals, and remarkable adaptations to life on the open ocean further underscore their uniqueness. These birds, like Wisdom, serve as a reminder of the importance of conservation and the need to protect the world’s most amazing birds.
While albatrosses have captured our imagination, they also face grave threats due to human activities. Pollution, overfishing, and the deadly consequences of getting caught in fishing gear threaten their populations. To ensure these remarkable birds continue to grace our skies and oceans, it’s imperative that we take steps to safeguard their habitats and reduce our impact on their environment.
The next time you catch sight of an albatross soaring high above the waves, take a moment to appreciate the majesty and wonder of these extraordinary creatures. They are, without a doubt, a testament to the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
“The Ocean’s Sentinel: A Wandering Albatross at Dawn” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
“On Top of the World: Wandering Albatross in Antarctic Skies” Photo: Alex Aitkenhead
In support of the Mouse Free Marion Project
Marion Island joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge
to help save its albatrosses and petrels
at risk from introduced House Mice
Our Latest Video features some wonderful Videography by Tom Shevlin on these Nomads of the Southern Ocean (Wandering Albatross)
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