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Black-Browed Albatross
Thalassarche melanophrys
-53.5925, -35.8594
Field Notes
Description:
A very distinct albatross with its black smudge around the eye and orange bill with a pink tip. The upper wings and back are slate coloured, while the under side is white with a messy dark border. The rest of the bird is white. They are smaller than wandering albatrosses, but still fairly large birds. They can live for up to 70 years. Sadly, they are classed as Endangered by CITES, mainly succumbing to fishermen as by-catch.
Habitat:
They were fairly uncommon around our ship, except for when we were near South Georgia and some of the South Sandwich Islands. Around S Georgia, we got groups of about 10 individuals. Like all albatrosses, it spends most of its life over open waters.
Notes:
I really liked these birds. These photos were taken the day before we arrived in South Georgia. While we were taking samples, they landed near the boat and inspected the equipment we put in the water! Sad to learn that they're endangered, their population has decreased by almost 70% over the last 65 years.
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