Salvin's albatross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salvin's albatross |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thalassarche
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| Species: |
salvini
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| Synonyms | |
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Thalassarche cauta salvini |
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The Salvin's albatross (Thalassarche salvini), also known as the Salvin's mollymawk, is a large seabird. It makes its home and raises its young only on islands near New Zealand. This bird is a medium-sized mollymawk, which is a type of albatross. For a long time, people thought it was just a different kind of shy albatross. However, scientists now know it's its own unique species. It is a black and white albatross of medium size.
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About Salvin's Albatross
Mollymawks are a group of albatrosses. They belong to the Diomedeidae family. This family is part of a larger group called Procellariiformes. Other birds in this group include shearwaters, fulmars, and petrels. All these birds have special features that help them live in the ocean.
One special feature is their nose. They have nasal passages called naricorns that are attached to the top of their beak. Unlike some other seabirds, the albatross's nostrils are on the sides of its beak. Their beaks are also unique, made up of seven to nine hard plates.
These birds can make a special stomach oil. This oil is stored in their stomach. They use it to protect themselves from predators. It's also a very rich food source for their baby chicks. Adult birds also use it for energy during their long flights.
Finally, albatrosses have a salt gland above their nose. This gland helps them remove salt from their bodies. They drink a lot of ocean water, so this gland is very important. It lets out a salty liquid from their nose.
How Scientists Classify Them
The Salvin's albatross, white-capped albatross, shy albatross, and Chatham albatross were once thought to be the same species. But in 1998, a scientific paper by Robertson and Nunn suggested they were different. Many experts agreed, including BirdLife International in 2000 and the ACAP in 2006.
However, some scientists, like James Clements, did not agree at first. Cornell University also held a different view for some time. Later studies, using molecular analysis, showed that the Salvin's albatross and the Chatham albatross are very closely related. They are like "sister species" to each other. They are more distantly related to the shy albatross.
Where the Name Comes From
This bird species was named by Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild. He named it after a famous bird expert, Osbert Salvin.
What Salvin's Albatross Looks Like
The Salvin's albatross is about 90 cm (35 in) long. Its wings can spread out to about 2.56 m (8.4 ft) wide. It weighs between 3.3–4.9 kg (7.3–10.8 lb). It is one of the largest mollymawks, similar in size to the shy albatross.
Adult Salvin's albatrosses have a silver-grey head. Their face, upper throat, and upper neck are grey. Their back, top of their wings, and tail are grey-black. They have a white rump (the lower back) and white underparts. Under their wings, they have a black mark that looks like a thumbprint. The edges of their wings and wingtips are also black.
Their beak is pale grey-green. The top ridge of the beak is pale yellow, with a bright yellow tip. The lower part of the beak has a dark spot on its tip.
Young Salvin's albatrosses have more grey areas on their bodies. Their beak is blue-grey with black tips on both the upper and lower parts. It can be hard to tell them apart from other albatrosses at sea. However, the Salvin's albatross is larger than the Chatham albatross and has a greyer beak. It also has a greyer head than the shy albatross.
Behavior
Feeding Habits
The Salvin's albatross mainly eats fish. It also feeds on cephalopods, which are sea creatures like squid and octopus.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
| Location | Population | Date | Trend |
| Bounty Islands | 30,750 pairs | 1998 | Possibly declining |
| Western Chain Islets, Snares Islands | < 650 pairs | 1984 | |
| The Pyramid, Chatham Islands | 2 pairs | 2006 | |
| Forty-Fours | 1+ pairs | 2007 | |
| Île des Pingouins, Crozet Islands | 1—4 pairs | 2002 | |
| Total | 62,000 | 1998 | Possibly declining |
Salvin's albatrosses usually breed in large groups called colonies. They prefer small, rocky islands with very little plant life. Their nest is like a small platform made of mud, feathers, and bird bones.
The female albatross lays one egg in September. Both parents take turns sitting on the egg to keep it warm. This is called incubation. The egg hatches around early November. The baby chicks stay in the nest for about four months. After this time, they are ready to fledge, which means they grow feathers and learn to fly.
Where They Live and Travel
Salvin's albatrosses breed on three different island groups in the Southern Ocean. These are Île des Pingouins in the Crozet Islands (Indian Ocean), and the Bounty Islands and The Snares (south of New Zealand). They also breed on The Pyramid and Forty-Fours Island.
When they are not breeding, these birds travel widely across the ocean. They can be found from South Africa all the way to Australia. They also travel as far east as the coast of South America.
Protecting Salvin's Albatross
The IUCN lists the Salvin's albatross as a vulnerable species. This means their numbers are decreasing, and they need protection.
One of the biggest threats to these birds comes from fishing. Longline fisheries and trawlers accidentally catch and kill small numbers of albatrosses. Trawlers are responsible for more than half of these deaths.
In 1998, the total world population was estimated to be about 61,500 birds. This number suggests a decline since earlier studies. For example, on the Bounty Islands, there were 30,750 breeding pairs in 1998. This is much less than the 76,000 pairs counted in 1978. There were about 650 pairs on the Snares Islands. A few pairs (1-4) were seen on Île des Pingouins in the Crozet Islands in 2002. Single chicks have also been seen on The Pyramid and Forty-fours Island in 2007.
Scientists are working to protect these birds. They are doing bird banding and studies to learn more about them. Most of the islands where they breed are nature preserves, except for The Pyramid and Forty-fours Island, which are privately owned. In 1998, the Snares Islands and Bounty Islands became World Heritage Sites. This gives them special protection. In 2006, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission made new rules. These rules require fishing boats south of 30°S to use methods that help prevent catching birds by accident.
See also
In Spanish: Albatros de Salvin para niños
