Chatham Albatross
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Chatham Albatross ( Thalassarche eremita ) |
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| Murphy , 1930 |
The Chatham albatross ( Thalassarche eremita ) is a species of bird in the albatross family. It has long been classified as a subspecies of the white-capped albatross , but has been viewed as a separate species since 1998. The species is classified as endangered ( vulnerable ) by the IUCN . The reason for the classification is the population of only 11,000 sexually mature individuals and the very small breeding area. Exceptional events have a very strong impact on the population very quickly. Several strong storms in 1985 significantly reduced the number of possible breeding sites on the only island where Chatham albatrosses breed. The longline fishery is another existence-threatening factor for this species.
Appearance
The Chatham albatross is slightly larger than the white-capped albatross . The wing length is 54 to 59 centimeters, the weight 3.1 to 4.7 kilograms. This makes him a medium-sized albatross. The head is dark gray and contrasts clearly with the white underside of the body and the white lower wings, which have a dark line on the wing edges. The dark eye is surrounded by a dark, triangular spot. This gives the Chatham albatross a facial expression that appears severe and serious to the human observer. The bill is bright yellow, the tip of the lower mandible is black. The legs and feet are bluish-gray.
Fledglings are very similar to the adult Chatham albatrosses. They only have a darker beak and their face and throat are also darker than that of adult birds.
Distribution area
The Chatham albatross only breeds on The Pyramid , an island belonging to the Chatham Islands . There is also evidence of an unsuccessful attempt at breeding on the Snare Islands . Non-breeding birds reside in a region that stretches from western Tasmania to the coast of Chile. A larger part of the population winters off the coast of Peru. Numerous individuals spend this time over waters that lie east of New Zealand. A Chatham albatross has also been observed off the coast of South Africa.
food
The Chatham albatross eats fish, cephalopods , barnacles and other crustaceans. It takes its food mainly from the surface of the water, but occasionally dips into the water. While foraging it is often socialized with other albatrosses and other sea birds . During the breeding season, it looks for its food near the breeding colonies. He lives solitary outside of the breeding season.
Reproduction
The Chatham albatross is a colony breeder. It breeds annually, the breeding season begins in August and September. The nest is on hills and cliffs that face seaward. It is built from mud, guano, feathers and other materials. The clutch consists of an egg. The egg has a whitish shell color with red-brown spots on the wider end. The breeding season lasts 66 to 72 days. The young bird fledged between February and December.
supporting documents
literature
- Hadoram Shirihai: A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife - The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and Southern Ocean , Alula Press, Degerby 2002, ISBN 951-98947-0-5
- James McQuilken: The Mists of Time. Spitzbergen.de-Verlag, 2012.
Single receipts
- ↑ BirdLife Factsheet on the Chatham Albatross , accessed November 27, 2010.
- ↑ a b Shirihai, p. 117.
- ↑ a b Shirihai, p. 116.
Web links
- Thalassarche eremita in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2010. Accessed March 12, 2012th