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| Gibson's Albatross is a member of the Wandering Albatross complex, and with a wingspan of close to 3.5m is an awe inspiring sight as it gracefully soars over the waves. |
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| Albatrosses are supremely adapted to gliding flight and are extremely efficient fliers so long as there is enough of a wind to provide sufficient updraft to keep these heavy birds aloft. |
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| Due to their huge size the Gibson's Albatrosses were the dominant birds at Kaikoura, chasing everything else away from the bait with ease... |
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| ...but violent squabbles between themselves were still quite frequent... |
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| In this close-up shot (taken with a macro lens at a distance of about 1m), the narrow, flattened nostril that is characteristic of Wandering Albatrosses is clearly visible. The Royal Albatrosses in comparison have wide, bulbous, upward-pointing nostrils. |
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| Juveniles and females (below) have more brown markings than adult males (above). |
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All photos taken off Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005
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| Help save albatrosses from the threat of long-line fishing. Buy a print (A4 or A3) of any albatross photo on this website and I will donate all profits from the sale to Birdlife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. Alternatively, you can donate directly on their website by clicking on the banner below. |
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