Royal albatross
The royal albatross is one of the largest seabirds, characterized by its impressive wingspan of nearly 12 feet (3.5 meters). These birds primarily inhabit southern islands off the coast of New Zealand and are divided into two species: the northern royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) and the southern royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora). With a body length of 44 to 48 inches (112 to 123 centimeters) and a weight of up to 27 pounds (12 kilograms), they are notable for their white bodies and black wings. Royal albatrosses are known for their incredible soaring ability, leveraging strong winds to glide effortlessly over vast ocean distances, reaching speeds of up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour.
Breeding occurs every two years, with adults returning to the same nesting sites to mate. They form strong pair bonds and share the responsibility of incubating a single egg, which hatches after two to three months. The parents care for the chick for up to eight months, foraging hundreds of miles for food. Unfortunately, the northern royal albatross is classified as endangered, while the southern species is considered vulnerable, facing threats from fishing practices and climate change. With a potential lifespan of up to 60 years, these remarkable birds are both fascinating and vulnerable members of the marine ecosystem.
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Royal albatross
The royal albatross is one of the largest of the seabirds. They live in southern islands off New Zealand's coast. Like the great and the wandering albatross, it has a wingspan of nearly 12 feet (3 1/2 meters), one of the largest wingspans of all living birds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Diomedea
Species: Various (see below)
There are two species of royal albatross—the northern royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) and the southern royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora). The white-bodied, black-winged royal albatross soars over the world’s southern oceans on its long, slender wings. High, strong winds flowing around its long, slender wings keep the bird aloft for hours or days as it soars and glides over the seemingly endless miles of water. The winds and the bird's 10-to-12-foot (3-to-3 1/2-meter) wings carry the albatross up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour. Its body is 44 to 48 inches (112 to 123 centimeters) long and weighs up to 27 pounds (12 kilograms).
During October, adult royal albatrosses return to their breeding grounds on islands in the South Pacific and near New Zealand to mate in colonies. They return to the same sites where they mated two years earlier. Since the males return first, they prepare a nest site, either a new one or an old one. The females return soon after the males. Each bird breeds with the same mate that it did two years earlier. This is rather amazing, since these albatrosses, like several others, form permanent pair bonds, mate only once every two years, and may not see each other between mating seasons. The birds are usually 6 to 10 years old before they mate for the first time. First-time breeders find a mate on the breeding grounds at this time.
The male and female build a ground nest of mud and grass about 2 1/2 feet (75 centimeters) across. The male and female incubate one large, white egg. They switch every week until the young hatches after two or three months. For the first month, the young huddles underneath its parents to stay warm until its feathers grow. The parents make feeding trips covering hundreds of miles (kilometers) to bring regurgitated food to the chick. They feed the chick until it is eight months old and independent. They begin breeding at eight years old.
The royal albatross spends most of its time alone looking for food. It feeds on the sea's surface at night when squid, fish, crustaceans, and krill rise from the depths near the surface. Sometimes, it dips its long, hooked bill below the surface for a fish. This albatross scavenges less on garbage and dead fish from ships than some of its albatross relatives.
The northern species is endangered and the southern is vulnerable. Fishing industries and climate change are the primary threats to these birds.
The life span of the royal albatross is up to 60 years.
Bibliography
"Northern Royal Albatross." New Zealand Birds Online, nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/northern-royal-albatross. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
"Northern Royal Albatross." The IUCN Red List, www.iucnredlist.org/species/22728323/132656392. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
"Southern Royal Albatross." New Zealand Birds Online, www.iucnredlist.org/species/22698314/132641187. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.