Graeme Teague Photography

Wandering Albatross 5265

Caption: Wandering Albatross 5265
Scientific name: Diomedea exulans
Location: New Zealand
Copyright: © Seibel / gtphoto 832-526-1123 gtphoto@shaw.ca
AGPix ID: AGPix_GrTePh23_1871
Digital Original
Comments: Wandering albatross, Kaikoura, New Zealand. The wandering albatross, snowy albatross, white-winged albatross or goonie is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae, which has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean. It was the first species of albatross to be described, and was long considered the same species as the Tristan albatross and the Antipodean albatross. Together with the Amsterdam albatross, it forms the wandering albatross species complex. The wandering albatross is one of the two largest members of the genus Diomedea (the great albatrosses), being similar in size to the southern royal albatross. It is one of the largest birds in the world, and one of the best known and studied species of bird in the world. This is also one of the most far ranging birds. Some individual wandering albatrosses are known to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times (covering more than 120,000 km or 75,000 miles) in one year. Overall past and predicted future declines amount to a rapid population reduction over a period of three generations, qualifying the species as Vulnerable. At South Georgia, this species is undergoing a rapid decline over three generations (70 years). Longline fishing and introduced species, cats, mice, are the main cause of decline in this species, causing reductions in adult survival and juvenile recruitment, and this threat is on-going. GTPHOTO is a full knowledge/photo agency with all award winning photographers, filmmakers, authors, scientists & guides covering our world - nature & wildlife specialists topside & underwater.