One of the most impressive birds on Bird Island has to be the Wandering Albatross. They are, when you get up close, just massive! Despite this huge size they are incredibly graceful birds, in the air at least.
An inquisitive adult
I takes almost 12 months for the eggs to hatch, chicks to grow, and then eventually fledge. This chick was still around on the meadows while adults have been courting, renewing their pair bonds, and displaying ready to breed.
Sitting up in the ‘meadows’ this juvenile Wanderer was rather curious of the reflection in my lens
A pair bonding
Male Wandering Albatross displaying all of its 3.5m wingspan to a female
The birds waddle around, making an incredible variety of calls, clapping their beaks, bowing their heads, sky pointing, and spreading their magnificent wings.
Displaying within sight of the base
Every nest here is individually marked, the identity of both adults recorded, and the success or failure of breeding monitored. In one area of the island the eggs are measured and weighed to give an indication of health and fitness of the female.
Me measuring a Wanderer egg, photo by Jerry Gillham
So how big is that egg, maybe compared with an average chicken egg.......Just weighed one - 58 grams!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, many thanks for sharing this wonderful experience:-)