![]() The most recent statistics conducted in 2007 revealed that there were about 8,114 pairs of breeding birds compared to 8,500 pairs in 1998. They drown while attempting to free themselves or are made easy prey by predators. Due to their aggression during the hunting of fish, the birds get caught up in fishing lines while targeting baits means for fish. The bird is at risk from human activities, particularly longline fishing. The Maori people of New Zealand baited the albatross and used them as a source of food and used their wing to create flutes, needles, and fish hooks. Tales from sailors narrate that the bird would fly tirelessly in both harsh and moderate weather. The bird would accompany ships and boats for days without landing on either land or water. Some early explorers of the southern seas found companionship in the birds during their solitary escapades and believed that whoever shot the bird would have an evil fate on him. Other Important Wandering Albatross Facts Relationship with HumansĪlthough their long wings benefit the birds immensely, thier wings historically have also made them target for sailors who captured the birds and used their wing bones to make tobacco pipes. After a couple of weeks, both parents leave to hunt and take longer periods out in the sea before returning to their nests. They regurgitate stomach oil for the chicks to feed on. After hatching, the parents will also take turn switching off between caring for the chicks and hunting. The incubation period is about eleven weeks, and parents take turns to care for the eggs. The females begin laying 10cm long eggs between 10 December and 5 January. The albatross begins creating nests made of mud and grass in preparation for the mating in early November. The wandering albatross reaches sexual maturity at the age of 11 years. One banded bird was reported to have traveled about 3,730 miles in just twelve days! 2. They cover long distances across the southern oceans. They spend their time flying and only land to either feed or breed. It feeds off the coast of New Zealand, preferably the Kaikoura Peninsula. The wandering albatross is known to breeds in several islands north of the Antarctic Circle including the Crozet Islands, Prince Edward Islands, South Georgia Island and Macquarie Island. ![]() After eating they are known to use their wings to float helplessly on the water, a situation that makes them prone and vulnerable to attack. They can spot a school of fish from above the water and make a shallow dive to catch its prey. However, they are known to follow boats and sea cruisers, hoping to feed on leftover handouts. The wandering albatross feeds on small marine animals such as fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Their beaks are long, pink and hooked to allow them to pick and hold on to fish. ![]() The wings of the male are more white than those of the males and also possess a faint peach spot on both sides of their heads. A young albatross is chocolate brown and turns white as it ages, and the features on top of their wings turn black as they approach adulthood. Its average length is about four feett 5 inches, but the females are known to be slightly larger than their male counterparts. The long wingspan allows the bird to float in the air without the need to flap its wings for a couple of hours. The longest wingspan measured by was 12 feet by 2 inches, although unverified reports claim that a giant wandering albatross was once sported and could have a wingspan of up to 17 ft 5 inches. The feathers on their wings are black at the top and white at the bottom. The wandering albatross is a white bird with large wings that can span up to eleven feet. ![]() This is because they possess a salt gland on the top of the nasal passage that enables them to desalinate and control the salt level in their bodies. They are among the few birds that survive on salty water. ![]() Their wings are adapted for floating on the sea surface and gliding for several hours without even flapping. These large feathered birds have the largest wingspan of any birds - they can reach up to 11 feet! This makes the wandering albatross the largest bird of the albatross species. The sight of a flying wandering albatross overhead is spectacular. Wandering Albatross Facts A wandering albatross soaring through the sky. ![]()
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