World’s Largest Sea Bird – Wandering Albatross

The Wandering Albatross is the largest sea bird on the earth and is found all around the world. It is also called by various names such as Snowy Albatross, Goonie, or White Winged Albatross, and has an incredible wingspan length of about 3.5m(11 ft). The weight of a Wandering Albatross is about 6Kg to 12kg and is mainly found in Southern oceans like The Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic. They have a white body and head with a beak of pinkish color and with black and white wings. Let’s get to know more about the world’s largest sea bird – Wandering Albatross in this article. 

Wandering Albatross – Lifespan and Eating Habits

The Wandering Albatross has a maximum lifespan of more than 50 years. These birds mainly feed on fish and jellyfish along with seals, carrion, penguins, and dead whales near the sea shores. They can consume up to 3Kg of food in a single sitting. Albatross also has a very good smelling power which helps them to smell food in water from 10 miles away. These birds are also capable of spending more than 5 years at sea without touching land and continuing their flying journey during moderate temperatures.

Wandering Albatross – Reproduction

The Wandering Albatross breeds every year. Breeding takes place in this specie after 12 to 15 years after their birth. During the time of breeding they go and occupy loose colonies of other Wandering Albatross in the southern ocean. They are oviparous as they lay eggs that are white with some spots and about 3.9 inches (10cm) long. The incubation period is of about 10 weeks and these birds usually lay eggs from the end of November to December.

Why are These Birds Being Killed by Humans?

These large, strong birds have been endangered due to humans as they were captured by sailors due to their long wing bones which were used to make tobacco pipe stems used for smoking tobacco. Also, the native people of New Zealand, the Maori feed on them as Albatross is their main source of food. 

World’s Largest Sea Bird, Wandering Albatross: Conservation Status

The specie of the Wandering Albatross was a Vulnerable specie (Vulnerable species are those species that are likely to become endangered but their reproduction rates are improved). The estimated population of Wandering Albatross was about 24000 in 2017, but in 2022 the specie of Wandering Albatross is now becoming endangered as their population is decreasing day by day due to the pollution in the ocean water and overfishing by humans.

Method of Conserving World’s Largest Sea Bird, Wandering Albatross:

1. Do not pollute the water of the ocean as it affects the life of all marine animals and Wandering Albatross as fishes are dying due to pollution thus making the birds starve for many days
2. Support the people who are trying to conserve Wandering Albatross as much as possible.
3. Stop overfishing so that the food is easily available for them
4. Government should set strict guidelines and ban the killing of Wandering Albatross so they can come out from being endangered species.