The bird could be confused because it is now fall in the Southern Hemisphere. The scientists also think the albatross is looking for a mate among the plentiful shore birds it has been seen with. Since albatrosses are so comfortable in the air, they almost never land, except in search of a mate, to build a nest, and hatch an egg. The albatross lays one egg at time that takes two to three months to hatch. The long, tapered wings of the albatross make it a powerful, impressive flier.
Albatrosses can soar magnificently in high winds, swoop dramatically, and glide with ease.
The wingspan of the yellow-nosed albatross can reach seven feet, while other varieties have wingspans of up to ten feet. Albatrosses have webbed feet and hooked beaks. They have few enemies, except humans, and can live for several decades. This meaning comes from the famous poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner , in which the mariner killed an albatross and had to wear it around his neck as penance. The Learning Network Inc. All rights reserved.