About the Albatross

Albatrosses are large seabirds known for having the largest wingspan of any living bird species, reaching up to 11 feet. These magnificent birds spend most of their lives at sea, coming to land only to breed. Albatrosses are incredibly efficient flyers, able to glide for hours without flapping their wings, using a technique called dynamic soaring to cover vast distances with minimal energy expenditure. They feed primarily on squid, fish, and krill, which they catch at the ocean's surface. Albatrosses are long-lived birds, with some species known to live over 50 years. They typically mate for life and have elaborate courtship rituals. Many albatross species are threatened due to long-line fishing, plastic pollution, and introduced predators at their breeding sites, leading to significant conservation efforts.