Where does the white-backed albatross live in nature? Description and photos of birds

The white-backed albatross (photo will be presented in the article) is a huge sea bird. It is also the largest albatross in the northern hemisphere. These beautiful creatures are included in the list of the largest flying birds, because the span of their wings can exceed 2.2 meters. The name "albatross" came from the Arabic al-cadous, which in translation means "diver". Long ago, Karl Liney himself gave these birds the Latin name Diomedea in honor of Diomedes, a strong and courageous ancient Greek hero. This was a very precise definition, since the bird fully corresponds to it.

White-backed albatross: description

The Albatross looks pretty beautiful. Adult birds have white plumage, on the neck and head there is a yellowish coating, the upper feathers on the wings are black-brown, the tail edge is also black-brown.

Bill is slightly longer than head, compressed laterally, tall, light. Immediately one can see how powerful it is. Short nasal tubes are located at its base and on the sides. It ends with claws of the supraclavicular and subclavian that look like hooks. They are formed from independent plates. Nadklavie is much more powerful than the lower part.

The legs are short, the netting is mesh, compressed at the sides. The first back finger is hidden by a fold of the skin. Color light, blue or pink.

Only the newly born chicks are covered with dark gray down, their paws and beak are black. Little grown-up nest chicks with a chocolate-brown color. In young birds, feathering is darker than in adults, white stripes across the wings. The beak is light pink with a blue tip, legs are beige blue.

Moulting

The change of clothes and the sequence of molting albatross have not yet been clarified. It is only known that the white-backed albatross molts completely once a year after the mating season. It is assumed that moulting birds migrate in summer. It lasts a long time, during the three summer months.

White-winged albatross: habitats, abundance

There was a time when the white-backed albatrosses were found in the Pacific with a myriad, their population numbered millions. But because of the beautiful feathers, birds were killed without any restrictions. For example, at the beginning of the twentieth century, more than three hundred thousand birds were exterminated each year. This led to the fact that in 1930 their numbers decreased to several hundred individuals.

In 1949, it was officially announced that this species had died out. But one year later on the island of Torishima, to a great joy, a small flock of white-sprightly handsome men was discovered, the family began its rebirth with only ten couples who were considered the last ones on earth. Saved them from the final extinction is that they are able to spend at sea up to 10 years, after which they return to the nest. So these young couples returned home and found that all the adults of their relatives were exterminated.

This is how the restoration of the number of these sea travelers began. Now people take care of them, now they are already guarded by the white-backed albatross. The Red Book of Russia "put it" on its pages as a species that is under threat of extinction.

In our days there are only two colonies, in which there are about 250 birds. They dwell in the northern subtropical and tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean. Nests are found only on the islands of Bonin and Wake.

Lifestyle

The white-backed albatross flies well and swims as well, but does not dive. All life of birds passes on water and in air, only during breeding they are compelled to remain in nesting grounds. Their flight is beautiful, soaring, long and fast. During the flight, the wings form a straight line with the body, the legs are connected to each other and stretched back.

Interesting is the fact that from the ground, even with the take-off, the albatross can not fly. To do this, he must find a hill, some rock, and from there, rushing down, go smoothly to the flight. But they can fly from the surface of the water without problems. True, they do it from a take-off. The bird, moving quickly with its paws, runs along the water, stretching his neck and flapping his huge open wings until he tears off from the water surface.

Active way of life of birds of this species can lead both during the day and at night, especially during the period of migrations. The white-backed albatross is much more cautious than other of his relatives, he seldom comes nearer to the ships. On wanderings, he behaves like an individual peasant, but if there is enough food, 10-20 birds can gather in one place. They are rather silent, you can hear their cackling while feeding chicks on the nesting grounds. And, of course, during disputes and fights due to mining, albinos make sounds resembling the roar of donkeys.

Food

A white albatross for feeding feeds on water. Food takes only from the surface, never diving behind it and not grasping on the fly. Getting food can both day and night.

In the diet of the albatross includes squid, small mollusks, fish, small invertebrates. Also these huge birds do not disdain food scum from passing ships. When a whaling vessel is passing by, a whole feast begins with the white-backed handsome men.

Reproduction

The white-winged albatross reaches sexual maturity at the age of 7-8 years. Arrives at the nesting sites in October. From the soil softened by rain, mixed with grass and moss, birds are built with a beak in the soil of the nest. The female lays only one egg, which is incubated for 64-65 days in turn by both parents.

In December-January, a chick appears from the egg. Again, both father and mother take care of their baby together. Fed it with regurgitated food. Half-digested food gets into the chicken's beak along with the gastric fat. At the end of May the chick period ends. A pair of white-backed albatrosses considers his mission to continue the genus to be completed and sent back to the sea. It is not for nothing that these seamen are called eternal pilgrims.