Mar 24 2008
Wandering albatross – The largest seabird
The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is the largest seabird in the Southern oceans. It has the largest wingspan of any living bird. According to Wikipedia the longest-winged examples verified have been about 3.7 m (12 ft), but probably erroneous reports of as much as 5.3 m (17.5 ft) are known.
The albatross spend months hunting on the open sea. They feed mostly on krill, squid and small fish. The photos on this post show wandering albatross in the Antarctic Ocean. Most albatross species are considered as “treatened”. One of the main threats is long-line fishing. The albatross dives to take the bait as the long-lines are set. If the bird gets hooked on the line, it will drown. Commercial long-liners have been trying out new ways of setting the lines to avoid seabirds as by-catch.
The photos on this post is taken by Øyvind Tangen.
Hey there – welcome back to Entrecard! Missed ya!
(re-read your post– I think you mean “threats” instead of “treats”)
Thanks for correcting me Mo! Remember; I am a Norwegian!
More fantastic pictures by Oyvind!
The Albatross is a very iconic bird for all who venture out to sea. According to legend, to kill it can bring bad luck and even death to the mariner or ship responsible.
19 of the 21 species of Albatross are threatened with extinction.
From ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Coleridge (1798 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rime_of_the_Ancient_Mariner):
At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the Fog it came;
And an it were a Christian Soul,
We hail’d it in God’s name.
The Marineres gave it biscuit-worms,
And round and round it flew:
The Ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The Helmsman steer’d us thro’.
And a good south wind sprung up behind,
The Albatross did follow;
And every day for food or play
Came to the Marinere’s hollo!
In mist or cloud on mast or shroud
It perch’d for vespers nine,
Whiles all the night thro’ [fog-smoke white]
Glimmer’d the white moon-shine.
“God save thee, ancyent Marinere!
“From the fiends that plague thee thus–
“Why look’st thou so?”–with my cross bow
I shot the Albatross.
That comment deserves a closeup of a wandering albatross. The photo below is taken by Leif Nøttestad (a scientist on board “G.O.Sars”) – and here are some more albatross-photos from Leif.
Interesting! I always thought the biggest bird alive was the Andean condor, now I see I was wrong.
Fun entry
You are not wrong Felipe. The wandering albatross is the largest seabird.