Wandering Albatross
When one of these magnificent birds was found dead on the surf beach at South Stradbroke Island, the resort's environment officers investigated the band on its leg. They found it had been banded thirty years earlier on an island near Antarctica. The specimen is now in the Queensland Museum.
Here is a report of the find by Couran Cove Resort’s Environment Manager:
Extract from Couran Cove Island Resort Environmental Report July 1999
- Scott Toohey
The discovery of the Wandering Albatross last month stirred up a huge amount of interest within the resort and beyond. Queensland Museum gratefully accepted the specimen and it is currently in the process of being set up as a life display to go on show. The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme in Canberra made contact with the French, who in turn thanked the resort for calling in the specimen. The following details were included in the letter back to the Couran Cove Resort Environment Department:
Banders name:
Henri Weimerskirch
Centre National De La Recherche
Scientifique, France.
Finding Details:
Band No: CF6194
Recovered: 30-06-99
At: Surf Side, South Stradbroke Island QLD
Latitude 27deg 50min 0sec
Longitude: 153deg 26min 0sec E
Banding Details:
The band you found was placed on a:
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans
On: 01/03/69
At: Point Basse, Possession Island, Crozet Island
Latitude: 46deg 25min 0sec; Longitude: 51deg 45min 0sec E.
The bird was aged: First year or older and its sex was unknown.
It was banded by: The CNRS (French Banding Scheme)
Time between banding and recovery:
30 years 3 months 29 days. The bird had moved at least a distance of 8626Km, on a bearing of 118 degrees.
These details provide an extraordinary account of the life history of one of the great birds of the ocean. The Wandering Albatross may live for more than forty years, and in that time they roam the southern latitudes of the globe, breeding usually every two years on one of the Subantarctic islands, in this one’s case, Crozet Island. They rest and feed on the water, consuming squid and cuttlefish, crustaceans, fish and offal from boats such as trawlers when available. The greatest concern for the conservation of these beautiful oceanic birds is becoming by-catch at the hands of the fishing industry, particularly long-line trawlers hunting tuna and other pelagic fish species. Greenpeace estimates in excess of 40,000 Albatross are killed each year as by-catch, a result of following the boats and picking up baited lines and hooks from the water. As a concerned individual, you can make a difference to the lives of these birds by supporting organisations that strive for change and act as watchdogs for unsustainable practises and environmental vandalism.
More information on Wandering Albatross from the Australian Museum:
http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/wandering_albatross.htm