Sometimes they say about the albatross – “a sea wanderer, a wanderer.” The largest albatross is called the wandering albatross. Its wingspan can reach 3.5 meters.
The albatross is adapted for long-distance flights: the body is small, the size of a goose. But the wings, narrow and flat, are the longest in the world.
With its wings spread, the albatross can hover in the air for hours. The wandering albatross is a beautiful bird with snow-white plumage. There are black feathers only on the wings.
The albatross not only flies well, but also swims. There are swimming webs on the paws, between the fingers. Bobbing on the waves, he rests and sleeps. He is not afraid of cold water. Dense, thick plumage and down do not get wet.
In the morning, at sunrise, the albatross takes off from the water, rises in circles into the sky. From above, he carefully looks out for his prey. The albatross feeds on fish and squid. And so that the wet prey does not slip out of the beak, there are sharp horny protrusions bent inward.
The whole life of an albatross takes place in the sea and sky. But when the time comes to procreate, the albatross returns to the places where it was once born. Most of the permanent places are the rocky shores of the islands.
The chick is born helpless and blind, but in a warm down coat. Albatross parents have been feeding the chick for a long time. The baby grows slowly and spends almost a year in the nest before leaving it.
And two years later, a married pair of albatrosses meets again at the old nest. And this has been going on for many years.
