Multitudes of Albatross

Posted by jamesy (christchurch, New Zealand) on 10 November 2008 in Animal & Insect.

Out on the boat we were very lucky to see a large number of Royal Northern Albatross flying. They come into Taiaroa Head at this time of year to breed. They mate for life but only come into land every second year. The rest of the time they are out at sea and never touch land til they return to find a mate or breed. They have a wing span of 3 metres and can live for up to 45 years. Normally you would see 1 or 2 albatross flying but we were very lucky to see up to 10 at a time. Excuse the photo I thought that numbers outdid clearness and the boat was moving quite a bit. Tairoa Head is the only mainland breeding spot for an albatross in the world evidently they only normally breed on remote islands.
Get Ready Christmas is coming

A PHOTO WISH TO AM3 FRIENDS(3 days, December 23-24-25))

Well, dear am3friends, it will be Christmas time soon and a photo wish is a best way to say thank you to this great photo community we all belong to.
So start thinking of ideas, photo ideas that will pass on your message for the holidays and the new year to the world.
Please post your photos on December 23, 24 and on Christmas day.
Tell your friends about it and, if you like, post this on your Blog for a few days so the message travels the globe.
Take care, I shall be there, it’s a promise.
Kind regards, Dimitrios

I really enjoy taking photos and would appreciate your feedback so that I can learn as I go. I particularly enjoy photographing birds animals and landscapes

Comments (24)

Zygene from morlaix, France

une très belle photo en toute légèreté

10 Nov 2008 5:36am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Beautiful...

10 Nov 2008 6:42am

Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany

Brilliant,lucky you to be able to see such a scene !!

10 Nov 2008 7:11am

@Anthony Lambert: We were very lucky

dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa

Lovely shot and a very interesting write-up. I would have thought they would have been too tired to mate!

10 Nov 2008 7:51am

@dobbino: After two years at sea they might also be quite keen

Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece

great moment, is it reAlly scientifically true that they fly all this time! how they drink water, AMAZING

10 Nov 2008 9:10am

@Dimitrios: Evidently it is true I am not sure how they get their water. They are very clumsy on land and need a reasonable amount of wind to be able to take off and the sort of crash land each time they land

Nan from Quezon City, Philippines

A tad too grayish for me, but I like that touch of orange on the side--very nice accent in the well-framed shot. :)

10 Nov 2008 12:53pm

@Nan: thanks for the comment and the visit

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Beautiful! They are amazing birds.

10 Nov 2008 2:40pm

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

Nice shot and fascinating narrative.

10 Nov 2008 3:25pm

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

"His giant wings prevent them to walk…" Charles Beaudelaire.
But in the air, these birds are masters…

10 Nov 2008 4:40pm

@Calusarus: How true is that statement. When they land they kind of crash land and they need alot of wind to be able to take off. Probably why they spend so long at sea

Pepper from Montreal, Canada

Fly, fly, fly away, at dawn, fly, fly, fly away!

10 Nov 2008 5:39pm

@Pepper: thanks for the visit and the comment Pepper

MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

What a wonderful sight to see them for real. I have never seen an albatross, only pictures. (And a stuffed one in a museum)

10 Nov 2008 5:41pm

@MaryP: We are very lucky to see these in Dunedin in the south Island

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

Oh, thank you for showing us these . . never thought I'd seem them posted like that as if they are commonplace ! Beautiful.

10 Nov 2008 6:36pm

@Ronnie 2¢: I think it was a special day. One of those days when everything goes right and there was no plan. As the boat pulled into the jetty a huge Norwest wind came up which would have made the boat ride extremely uncomfortable and photography impossible so we were extremely lucky

Jeff from Pembroke Dock, United Kingdom

On my wish list since I was a kid reading the Ancient Mariner...To see a live Albatross...Thanks Jamesy,you've kept the dream alive.

10 Nov 2008 7:44pm

@Jeff: Come to NZ Jeff for summer and you will see some. I know somewhere you can stay in Chch

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

hello Deb!! beautiful shot here -- i wish i too could just glide all around the world -- what a wonderful thing that would be!!! now if only birds could use cameras!!! ;) and just a WONDERFUL idea for the Christmas 'Photo Wish' -- yes, just splendid!! i will be sure to do three special pieces for those days!! how fun!!! :)

10 Nov 2008 8:13pm

@dj.tigersprout: Cool DJ I thought you would be a starter for the Christmas Challenge Its Dimitrios Idea I am just passing on the message should be lots of fun though. Imagine the sites you could see if birds could use cameras

Veronelle from Lens, France

belle ambiance de tempete, et jolie capture d'oiseaux

10 Nov 2008 8:14pm

Maramy from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

Lucky you seeing all these birds!! they are gliding so gracefully too!! ...........I have never seen one before either! thank you for sharing.

10 Nov 2008 9:19pm

Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States

I would LOVE to be able to fly... and just soar through the air like these birds... great catch... I can never seem to catch one flying...

10 Nov 2008 9:25pm

Charles from New York, United States

Nice shot. Nice to see so many in one spot. I would think after flying for two years they would want to take a break! You are lucky to be able see such wildlife.

10 Nov 2008 10:19pm

@Charles: thanks Charles we are very lucky

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

its great to see so many, nice shot

10 Nov 2008 10:57pm

Jeffster from Long Island, United States

After flying around for 2 years straight, I would probably be too tired to mate. Don't know if it's true or not, but I heard that the albatross drink seawater, and the salt comes out in their tears.

11 Nov 2008 12:13am

Bookfool from Vicksburg, United States

Wow, two years straight? I wonder if that's really fact. It's kind of mind-boggling.

I think the shots are excellent. Really, I'd never have guessed you were in a moving boat. I took a boat ride in Alaska and the best I could do when the boat was moving was . . .well, not good. LOL It was a pretty rough boat ride, though. We had to sit when it was moving or risk going for a flight, ourselves.

11 Nov 2008 1:40am