![]() ![]() ![]() Generally, behavior varies from species to species and individual to individual. Rather than euthanizing the animal, if they can still live a pain-free life, zoos will take it into their care.Īlbatrosses in zoos, like the animals at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, help zookeepers teach visitors about their plight. Sometimes an wounded animal cannot survive in the wild. These birds rarely end up in zoos, but those that do suffered severe injuries in some way. It is also illegal to harm, harass, capture, own, or kill them. These birds spend their lives soaring over the open ocean, and would not do well as a household pet. Humans have not domesticated Albatrosses in any way. There are many different threats to these birds, the extent of which varies by species. Humans have hunted these birds, killed them for sport, or simply for entertainment, and harvested them for their feathers and their eggs.įishermen also accidentally kill Albatrosses in commercial longline fishing. In fact, there is not a single species of Albatross that is not in danger of extinction. Sadly, human activity has not been kind to these birds. While they are breeding, they can only eat what foods are close to their colonies. Sometimes they also eat carrion, or the scraps left behind by other hunters.Įach species of Albatross hunts for different types of prey, and their target also depends on the season. They hunt the oceans for squid, octopus, fish, shrimp, krill, and more. Diet of the AlbatrossĪs seabirds, Albatrosses primarily feed on fish and other sea creatures. There are several species that live in the northern Pacific Ocean, from the west coast of North America to the east coast of Asia. The vast majority of species live to the south, primarily between Antarctica and the southern coasts of South America, Africa, and Australia. These birds live in two wide bands across the open ocean of the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere, with the exception of the North Atlantic Ocean. They rarely hunt for fish in oceans shallower than 3,000 ft. Most species prefer to feed in exceptionally deep areas, though they cannot dive very far below the surface. Amazingly, she has raised a chick every year since 2006!Įven though there are many different species of Albatross, these birds all share the same habitat – the sea! All species spend most of their lives on or above the ocean, and only come to shore when they are ready to breed. Wisdom of the Albatross – A Laysan Albatross, called Wisdom, is at least 63 years old, and likely as old as 68! Researchers banded her in 1956, and scientists estimate that she was 5 years old when the band was placed.Though some parrots surpass their longevity in zoos, Albatrosses hold the record for the oldest wild bird. In fact, they have the longest life of any wild bird. Long Wings and Long Lives – Not only do these birds have incredibly long wings, but they also live incredibly long lives.In fact, before they are old enough to breed, some birds might not step foot on land for up to 10 years! In fact, the only time they ever return to land is to reproduce. True Seabirds – The many different species of Albatrosses all share a similar trait.They have the longest wingspan of any living bird today! Several species of pelican are also near the top of the list, as well as the Andean condor. Not Just Big Birds – Albatrosses are not only incredibly large birds, but they are the largest in the world.Learn more about what makes these imposing seabirds so unique below. Interesting Facts About the Albatrossīecause they are so large, it is a small wonder that these birds have attracted the attention of humans for centuries. This is because they are perfectly adapted for aerodynamic ability, and the less you weigh, the easier it is to fly. ![]() At their heaviest, most Albatrosses weigh no more than 25 lbs. ![]()
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