79
edits
Changes
New bird article
'''Albatrosses''' are large [[seabird]]s, normally found far out in the ocean. they use their very long wings to glide just above the waves, occasionally catching [[fish]] and [[squid]]. Albatrosses make their nests in large colonies on remote islands. they mate for life.
==Types of albatross==
Scientists disagree about how many species of abatross exist; between thirtenn and twenty-four have been proposed. however, some species have become well known, including the [[Wandering Albatross]], sometimes said to have the longest wingspan of any bird - up to twelve feet.
Six species of albatross are known in american waters:
* [[Short-tailed Albatross]] - breeds off [[Japan]]; now down to about 1,000 individuals. it can be seen off the [[Pacific]] coast
* [[Shy Albatross]] - can be seen from [[Washington state]] to [[California]].
* [[Laysan Albatross]] - breeds in [[hawaii]], but also seen off the western mainland.
* [[Black-footed Albatross]] -also breeds in hawaii, but can be seen every year off the western mainland.
* [[Yellow-nosed Albatross]] - a rare visitor to the [[atlantic]] and [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] coast, probably from nesting sites in [[Tristan da Cunha]] island.
* [[Black-browed Albatross]] - a very rare visitor to American waters, but has been seen in [[Europe]]an waters several times.
==Albatrosses in legend==
The albatross is well-known for its role in [[superstition]]. Albatrosses often follow ships, and wre believed to be the souls of drowned sailors. it was considered to be bad luck to kill one. In [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]]'s epic poem ''[[The Rime of the Ancient Mariner]]'', the mariner of the title tells a tale of the grim consequences of killing one of the birds.
In 1959 the crew of the ship ''Calpean Star'', docked at [[Liverpool]], refused to continue their voyage after they blamed on-board accidents on an albatross in the cargo, which was being taken to a zoo.
==Sources==
* ''The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America'' (National Geographic Society 2002)
* [http://www.kcc.org.nz/birds/albatross.asp Albatross facts]
* [http://www.doghause.com/superstitions.asp The Albatross in superstition]
[[category:birds]]
==Types of albatross==
Scientists disagree about how many species of abatross exist; between thirtenn and twenty-four have been proposed. however, some species have become well known, including the [[Wandering Albatross]], sometimes said to have the longest wingspan of any bird - up to twelve feet.
Six species of albatross are known in american waters:
* [[Short-tailed Albatross]] - breeds off [[Japan]]; now down to about 1,000 individuals. it can be seen off the [[Pacific]] coast
* [[Shy Albatross]] - can be seen from [[Washington state]] to [[California]].
* [[Laysan Albatross]] - breeds in [[hawaii]], but also seen off the western mainland.
* [[Black-footed Albatross]] -also breeds in hawaii, but can be seen every year off the western mainland.
* [[Yellow-nosed Albatross]] - a rare visitor to the [[atlantic]] and [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] coast, probably from nesting sites in [[Tristan da Cunha]] island.
* [[Black-browed Albatross]] - a very rare visitor to American waters, but has been seen in [[Europe]]an waters several times.
==Albatrosses in legend==
The albatross is well-known for its role in [[superstition]]. Albatrosses often follow ships, and wre believed to be the souls of drowned sailors. it was considered to be bad luck to kill one. In [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]]'s epic poem ''[[The Rime of the Ancient Mariner]]'', the mariner of the title tells a tale of the grim consequences of killing one of the birds.
In 1959 the crew of the ship ''Calpean Star'', docked at [[Liverpool]], refused to continue their voyage after they blamed on-board accidents on an albatross in the cargo, which was being taken to a zoo.
==Sources==
* ''The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America'' (National Geographic Society 2002)
* [http://www.kcc.org.nz/birds/albatross.asp Albatross facts]
* [http://www.doghause.com/superstitions.asp The Albatross in superstition]
[[category:birds]]