Black-footed albatrosses are huge birds. They have an overall length of 25 to 29 inches from beak to tail feathers. They can weigh between 78 and 152 ounces (just under five to just under ten pounds). But the most impressive part of this bird’s anatomy is the wingspan. When spread from tip to tip, the wings can measure six and a half to eight feet. The size is a big part of what makes their courting ritual so incredible to watch.
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The black-footed albatrosses are nomadic for the first five years of their lives. They roam the oceans and rarely remain on land. After this period of roaming, they find a mate and settle down for life on the islands near the Hawaiian archipelago. This amazing species can live up to 50 years.
The courtship dance is a homecoming celebration. The birds might fly thousands of miles to forage for food. When the black-footed albatross returns home, its monogamous mate greets it through dance. Dan Rapp, who works with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, recorded the rare footage of this courtship ritual.
The ritual begins with the mated pair facing one another. They touch bills and swing their heads back and forth. Opening their wings, they stretch their necks up with their beaks pointing skyward. They do some fancy footwork while making odd sounds. Clacking their beaks, mooing, whinnying, and braying sounds fill the air.
Mated pairs share nesting duties from egg incubation to fledging. They alternate nest time. Because of the great distances the birds travel, foraging trips can last a week or more. The black-footed albatross is on the Yellow Warning List.
Please share this beautiful ritual of love between two monomagous black-footed albatrosses.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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