Antarctic Peninsula and Polar Circle 2020 Feb 10 2020 -13

King of the Southern Winds
Sandra Ophorst, Lecturer & Expedition Guide
The wandering albatross is an impressive bird with the
world’s largest wingspan of up to 3.5 meters in length
and a weight of up to 11 kilograms. Unfortunately, the
number of wandering albatrosses is rapidly declining
with only 20,100 individuals left as of October 2019
(Red List, World Conservation Union)
The wandering albatross is rarely seen on land and
gathers only to breed, at which time it forms large
colonies on remote islands, such as South Georgia. The
female lays a single white egg and both sexes share
incubation, which lasts about 60 to 80 days. Both sexes
feed the youngster by regurgitating food, a process
that can continue for up to nine months.
The nesting cycle of wandering albatrosses is so long,
they can’t complete it in one year. So, they nest every
other year. When young albatrosses become
independent and leave their nest site, they begin a
multi-year foray on the open ocean and will not return
to land until they are old enough to breed. This can
take up to 10 years of their 50 year average lifespan.
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The wandering albatross is famous for its dynamic
flight. They turn into the wind to gain height, then glide
back down to the sea to gain speed. Sometimes they
glide for hours without rest or even a single flap of
their wings. Indeed, this principle was used to design
airplanes, especially gliders that have albatross-like
wings.
As a result of these wings, however, an albatross’
landing process often looks a bit comical as their
narrow wings do not allow for a slow approach. So,
they often land on their feet and then tumble forward
and slide on their bellies. The biggest threats to the
wandering albatross are pollution and large-scale
commercial tuna fisheries. These tuna fishing boats are
equipped with up to 20,000 fish baited hooks and
these lines can be up to 100km long.
Unfortunately, these fishing lines often attract
albatrosses get caught up on the hooks and drown as
they are cast out at sea. Organisations such as Hookpod
are trying to save the albatrosses from the dangers of
long line fishing vessels by providing fishing boats with
“hookpods” that cover the barb and point of the hook
during setting, reducing the likelihood of an albatross
by-catch.
© Sandra Petrowitz
10-22, FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 13