Black-footed albatross
The black-footed albatross is a large seabird native to the northern Pacific Ocean, recognized for its impressive wingspan of six to eight feet, enabling it to soar gracefully above stormy waters. With solid grayish-brown plumage and distinctive black webbed feet, these birds can reach lengths of up to 2.5 feet. Known for their exceptional gliding abilities, they spend much of their lives in the air, feeding primarily at night on squid, plankton, and fish, often following ships for discarded food scraps.
These albatrosses are monogamous and engage in elaborate courtship dances during their breeding season, which occurs between November and February on certain Pacific islands. After mating, they build a cup-shaped nest and both parents incubate a single egg for about 65 days. Once hatched, the chick is fed a nutrient-rich stomach oil and cared for until it can fly, usually within two to three months. However, the black-footed albatross is currently classified as a near-threatened species due to challenges from commercial fishing practices and pollution, raising concerns about its future survival.
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Black-footed albatross
The black-footed albatross is native to the tropical islands of the northern Pacific Ocean. The black-footed albatross is a large seabird about the size of a goose which spends most of its life soaring above the stormy ocean waves. It is able to soar and glide at great speeds on its six-to-eight-foot wingspan for days at a time.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Phoebastria
Species: Nigripes
Solid, grayish-brown plumage, or feathering, covers the bodies of these large seabirds. Each bird also has a white ring around the base of its large, thick, hooked, black bill and a white streak behind each dark eye. Their name comes from their black, webbed feet. About the size of geese, these birds are up to 2 1/2 feet (75 centimeters) long.
Like its other albatross relatives, the black-footed albatross has long, streamlined wings for gliding and soaring on high, stormy winds and rising air currents. From one tip to the other, their wingspan is six to eight feet (2 to 2 1/2 meters). They are able to soar and glide at heights of 50 feet (15 meters) mile after mile, hour after hour, and even day after day, without landing to rest. Most of their lives are spent in the air over the water as they search for food. The albatrosses land on the water to feed, but they can do so only in rough, stormy seas with plenty of wind since they have difficulty taking off from water. Feeding occurs chiefly at night when the squid rise to the surface. Into their bills they also scoop plankton, which are tiny floating plants and animals. Shallow dives yield fish, and ships provide garbage and food scraps which are thrown overboard. Albatrosses may follow ships for days at a time and have always been familiar sights to sailors.
Black-footed albatrosses are monogamous, meaning they form lifelong pairs. Black-footed albatrosses breed between November and February on islands in the western Pacific and on the Leeward Islands, which are west of Hawaii. In the breeding colonies males and females form pairs and dance with each other. They stretch their wings, bow their heads, and snap their bills as they groan. After mating, they build a cup-shaped nest from mud. The single, white egg rests on a bed of feathers and grass. Both parents incubate the egg, which hatches after 65 days. The chick then feeds on smelly stomach oil which both parents have regurgitated, or brought back up from their stomachs. This oil contains nutrients from the food which the parents have eaten. During the period that they are feeding their chick, the parents also cover the chick with their bodies to keep it warm until it grows its own feathers and to protect it from predators. When its parents leave the nest to feed, the chick spits some of the smelly stomach oil at any intruder which comes too close. After two to three months the chick is able to fly for the first time.
It is believed that black-footed albatrosses live up to 40 years. Due to the effects of commercial fishing and pollution, the black-footed albatross is a near-threatened species.
Bibliography
Lavaty, Greg. “Black-Footed Albatross.” American Bird Conservancy, 2024, abcbirds.org/bird/black-footed-albatross. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.
Polan, Jason. “Black-Footed Albatross - Audubon Field Guide.” National Audubon Society, 2024, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-footed-albatross. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.