Wandering Albatrosses bounce back (a bit) on Australia’s Macquarie Island

Last austral summer (2018/19) only three eggs were laid by the globally Vulnerable Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans, the lowest recorded in a 25-year monitoring programme, on Australia’s sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island (a World Heritage-status Nature Reserve) by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE).

“This year 10 eggs have been laid, which is the highest in a decade.  In the 2008/09 summer 13 eggs were laid, but since then the average has been less than six.  While several eggs this season were laid by experienced breeders with well-formed partner bonds, there are also a number of newly established breeding pairs and first-time breeders, some of which were chicks from the comparatively bumper 2008/09 season.  The first chicks will begin to hatch in March - we will be very keen to see how many are successful.”

Information and photographs courtesy of DPIPWE Ranger Melanie Wells via the Marine Conservation Program Facebook page.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 24 January 2020.Three photographers donate use of their albatross images to support ACAP and World Albatross Day