Albatross is the term used to refer to a group of birds ocean marines. This animal spends most of its life in the open sea, visiting islands or coastal areas when breeding and caring for its young. It has long, narrow wings, a strong beak, and webbed feet.
They are not great divers, but albatrosses are capable of flying. According to the Albatross Project, sponsored by Petrobras, there are 22 species of albatrosses worldwide, ten of which are observed in the Brazil. The interaction with fishing operations and pollution are two factors that threaten albatrosses.
Know more: What are the adaptations of birds to flight?
Abstract about the albatross
Albatrosses are migratory oceanic seabirds.
They spend most of their time in the open sea, approaching land in a few situations.
They are part of the order Procellariiformes and the family Diomedeidae.
They have long, narrow wings, a strong, curved beak, and webbed feet.
They stand out for their efficient and effortless flight. These birds barely flap their wings and take advantage of wind currents to move around.
They feed mainly on fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
Fishing and pollution threaten albatross species.
characteristics of the albatross
the albatross ismigratory seabird.The name of seabirds is given to a very diversified group of species that get their food from the low tide line to the open sea. Seabirds can be classified into:
Coastal: those that get their food and reproduce within the limits of the continental shelf and adjacent areas.
Oceanic: those that get their food especially at sea, use the pelagic marine environment most of the time and take refuge in oceanic islands to reproduce and rest. the albatross it is an oceanic seabird.
The order of albatrosses is Procellariiformes and its family is Diomedeidae, which stands out for comprising the largest flying birds in the world. The giant albatross, for example, can have a wingspan of up to 3.5 m. Some of the main characteristics of the albatross are:
feet provided with interdigital membranes;
beak strong and hooked;
long, narrow wings;
thick, waterproof plumage.
The plumage that this animal has is very important to keep its body warm and dry and varies between shades of white, brown and blue-black. However, it makes the albatross not a great diver.
Despite not being great divers, albatrosses have excellent gliding ability. When flying, they barely flap their wings, keeping them open and taking advantage of wind currents. To take off, they travel several meters from the surface of the water or the ground.
Because they barely actively flap their wings, they are able to save energy, which allows for longer journeys. some species are capable of traveling up to 800 km per day. According to the Albatross Project, during their life cycle, some albatross species can travel around the world.
Like other seabirds, albatrosses need to excrete excess salt in their body. This action is carried out by means of glands located above each eye, which remove the sodium chloride of the blood and eliminate a solution rich in salt through nasal tubes.
The albatross is an animal that if feeds on animals like fish, molluscs It is crustaceans. Its hook-shaped beak helps capture smooth and slippery animals. These birds are also observed following ships in order to collect fishing debris.
Read too: Seagull — a coastal seabird
reproduction of the albatross
Albatrosses are animals that have only one reproductive partner for their entire life, therefore being a monogamous species. In general, these animals reproduce once a year, but in some species this interval can be two years or more. Females lay only one egg each breeding season. They lay their eggs in nests, which can be made of different materials, such as sand, grass or clay.
Nests are usually made on isolated islands, and the incubation period varies between 68 It is 79 days. The couple takes turns incubating, in shifts that vary from one day to three weeks. This relay is important, since the distance from the nest to the food source is great.
The care of the young is done by the male and the female, that is, they also take turns in this task. Chicks take a long time to learn to fly and leave the nest. In some species, the process can take more than 280 days.
Threats to Albatross
Albatrosses are species that, like other animals, suffer fromThe harmful action of humans to the environment.A pollution aquatic life is extremely harmful for these animals, which often ingest garbage accidentally by mistaking it for food.
In addition, albatrosses are accidentally caught infishing operations. Longline vessels, for example, are commonly associated with the death of these animals. These vessels carry out fishing with a focus on large fish far from the coast and use hooks with baits that end up attracting these birds. When capturing the bait, the albatrosses are hooked and end up drowning.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher