Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) Science Article 3
abstract
Five free-living wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans were fitted with stomach temperature sensors to detect when birds fed. Three birds went to sea for a total of 24 dduring which time they ingested 159 prey items which were calculated to have a total mass of 45.65 kg. These results were lumped with results from another study to show that 89 ‘L of all prey (by mass) were caught during the day when wandering albatrosses fly the greatest distances. We suggest that birds generally rest during periods of darkness but actively search for widely-spaced prey during the day during which time they use dynamic soaring to enable them to cover the requisite large distances with minimal energy expenditure
Henri weimerskirch, Rory P. wilson, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 86: 297-300, 1992