Albatross
Perhaps best-known for its being cursed by sailors as a harbinger of bad
luck, this bird of the world's southern oceans spends long periods at
sea, covering several thousand kilometers on a single foraging trip, and
comes to shore seasonally to nest. It is long-lived, with an estimated
life-span of 30-40 years, and is one of sixteen albatross species
identified as globally threatened in recent years, in large part due to
drowning on fishery longlines Albatrosses range in length from 50 to 125
cm (20 to 50 in). Plumage varies from white through dark gray or
gray-brown, with combinations of all three being common. The large
hooked bill, covered with horny plates, has characteristically prominent
tubular nostrils. The three front toes are webbed, and the rear toe may
be absent or vestigial. Albatrosses live on land only during the
breeding season, usually nesting in colonies on the shores of remote
oceanic islands. Courtship displays are highly elaborate. Incubation of a
single large white egg lasts two to three months.
» Population: 15,000 breeding pairs
» Location: Southern oceans
» Wingspan: 9 feet
» Weight: 20 pounds
» Diet: Squid & fish
» Nests: Cones of mud and grass
» Appearance: Adult has white head and body, upper wing mostly brown black with an area of white at the leading edge.
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