Wandering Albatross | 27 Jan 2024

The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) is in the spotlight due to a recent study highlighting its vulnerability.

• Wandering Albatross is the largest flying bird with a wingspan of 3.5 metres. It spends most of its 60-year lifespan at sea.
  • Primarily found in the Southern Ocean and surrounding islands, with Marion and Prince Edward Islands supporting half of the world's breeding population.
  • It breeds approximately every two years on land after reaching sexual maturity.
• It is vulnerable as per IUCN Red list, facing threats like bycatch from longline fishing trawlers, pollution and climate change.
  • Albatrosses prefer low, coastal sites for warmth and suitable habitats. Climate change may disrupt these preferences by altering temperature, rainfall, and wind patterns.
  • Wind speed, an understudied factor, is critical for nest site selection and alteration in speed could impact nest construction and chick rearing.