Laysan Albatross

[darren]

Hi. Carmel and I hiked out to Ka'ena Point on Oahu to see the Laysan Albatrosses that nest there. Figured some of you might want to see some of the shots. No chicks yet, but they should be hatching soon. I plan on heading back in about 3 weeks to try to get some shots of the chicks.

It was about a 6 mile hike which is certainly the longest I have walked since I broke my leg the first time. Two days later and my legs are still tired.

These birds are big. Wingspans are 6' - 7'. Very cool to see them soar on the trade winds. We got to watch some of them do their mating dances. I read yesterday that two year old birds return to where they were born. They then pick a partner and do mating dances for 4 to 5 years before they mate. They want to make sure they get a dedicated mate. After that, nesting and taking care fo the single chick takes 5 to 6 months. If the chick lives the couple stays together for life. If the chick does not hatch or dies then the couple gets a "divorce". Wild.

Aloha,

-darren

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Very cool photos. Do I see a banded leg in the third shot? What happens if they produce a successful chick (mate for life) one year and fail the following year (get a divorce)?

Tim

 

[darren]

Very cool photos. Do I see a banded leg in the third shot? What happens if they produce a successful chick (mate for life) one year and fail the following year (get a divorce)?

Tim

Yes, that is a leg band. The Department of Land and Natural Resources keeps close tabs on the albatrosses. They do constant work to remove invasive plants and animals from Ka'ena Point. There are plans to install a fence across the peninsula to keep out non-native animals that prey on the birds.

http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kaena/index.htm

Don't know any more info about albatross divorces.

- darren

 

[forestgnome]

Whoa! Great shots and thanks for the descripton of their lives. Very cool!

happy trails

 

[Puck]

great photos. I would imagine banding those birds would require three people.

When handling birds to band them they frequently make a fecal mess. Catbirds full of berries make a colorfull splash but the albatross on it fish diet...whooa could smell worse then lobster bait.

 

[kmac]

super cool pictures i love the one of him in flight over the rocks.
kmac

 

[w7xman]

Wow, these are VERY strong avian shots. The flight shot is Tack Sharp, and the lone bird on the next is well composed within a striking environment. Big kudos on those two, as I know how hard it is to get both styles to work well in a frame compositionally.

 

[Early Bird]

Excellent! I can't wait for the chicks post in a few weeks.

What happens if they produce a successful chick (mate for life) one year and fail the following year (get a divorce)?

Tim

From what I've read in The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior albatrosses are monogamous for life. They will "divorce" /seek new mates rarely after breeding attempts repeatedly fail. Breeding success is about 60%, and nesting is attempted every other year. Those mating dances that they perform over the years serve to strengthen the pair's bond.

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

Excellent shots and interesting info!

 

[darren]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I just looked at this set of photos after not seeing them for a while and I think my favorite now is the sepia one of the bird coming in for a landing - just because it is different.

I haven't had the time to go back to see the chicks yet. Hopefully I will get some time off this weekend and be able to get back out there.

- darren

 

[darren]

Finally got some time off from work and I hiked back out to Ka'ena Point. No chicks yet and there were a lot less albatrosses around. Not sure what is up. Anyway, I got a few new shots.

I think the second one of this group is my new favorite of them all so far.

Aloha

- darren