Wandering albatross

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a large seabird of the Southern Ocean, distinguished by the longest wingspan of any living bird and its far-ranging flights.

Dynamic soaring: A flight technique that extracts energy from wind gradients to sustain gliding. Wandering albatrosses use wind shear above waves to travel long distances while flapping little.
Bird migration tracking: The study of bird movements using tools such as satellite transmitters and geolocators. Tracking has mapped wandering albatross journeys across the Southern Ocean.
Longline fishing: A fishing method that uses a long line carrying many baited hooks. Wandering albatrosses can be caught on baited hooks while scavenging near fishing vessels.
South Georgia: A remote sub-Antarctic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It holds the largest breeding population of wandering albatrosses.
Albatross flight: The specialized gliding flight used by albatrosses to travel efficiently over the ocean. Its long, narrow wings make this flight style especially effective over the Southern Ocean.
Animal telemetry: The remote measurement and transmission of data about an animal’s location or condition. Telemetry makes it possible to study this species across inaccessible ocean regions.
Bycatch: Animals unintentionally caught during commercial fishing. Bycatch in longline fisheries is a major source of avoidable mortality for the species.
Crozet Islands: A sub-Antarctic island group in the southern Indian Ocean. Its breeding colonies provide a major long-term study site for the species.
Wing loading: The ratio of an animal’s weight to its wing area. The species’ large wings help generate lift during sustained oceanic gliding.
Seabird conservation: The protection and management of seabirds and the habitats they depend on. The species’ declines have made it a focus of international seabird conservation.

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