This is the Tristan albatross, Diomedea dabbenena.

Of the 22 recognised species of albatross, the Tristan albatross is one of seven belonging to the so-called “great albatrosses” of the genus Diomedea, which inhabit the Southern Ocean. The Tristan albatross is one of the largest existing birds, with a wingspan of more than three meters, and standing a little more than one meter tall.

Linnaeus derived the genus name from Diomedes, the hero of the Greek myths. According to the myth, as told by Lycophron, Diomedes’ companions were turned into birds that live “in the manner of fishermen” by Aphrodite, as punishment for wounding her during the Trojan war.

The Tristan albatross has a range covering 14 million square kilometers, but it congregates every two years to breed on one tiny, remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean - Gough Island.

On Gough Island, Tristan albatrosses form strong bonds with one partner, through complex rituals, calls and dances. Young, fledged birds begin rehearsing these bonding practices around the age of 3 - first displaying the behaviours innately but superficially, then, through trial and error, reading and interpreting them appropriately, and, finally, some years later, forming a monogamous pairing with its own unique language.

During its long periods at sea, the bird is able to cover great distances due to several morphological adaptations, the most important being a sheet of tendon in its wings that locks the wing when fully extended, allowing it to remain outstretched without muscular exertion. It glides almost effortlessly, exploiting the technique of “dynamic soaring” between air masses to fly hundreds of kilometers without beating its wings. Studies have shown the heart rate of a soaring albatross is barely higher than its heart rate at rest.

Sailors onboard the ships of colonists and traders, which became widespread in the Southern Ocean from the late 18th century onwards, returned to Europe with fantastic tales of the great albatrosses. Their sheer size, their ability to navigate great distances, and their affinity to the terrifying winds of the region evoked awe, respect, and fear.
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798, is said to have been based on these accounts. The poem tells of a sailor who kills an albatross at sea, drawing the wrath of the spirits of the ocean. Icy winds from the south torment the ship, and the mariner’s crewmates mysteriously die, one by one. The desperate man wears the heavy, lifeless albatross around his neck to prove his regret to the spirits, but it is in vain. His shipmates are all dead. Utterly alone and without hope, the sailor begins to notice the organisms of the ocean beneath the ship. The strange, slimy creatures which he had always loathed, suddenly, in his loneliness, seem wondrous. As his reverence grows, he enters a trance. The albatross slips from around his neck, and the spirits guide the ship home. He is, however, doomed to recount the story over and over for the rest of his life, his guilt for the murder of the albatross never diminishing.

Fewer than 5000 mature Tristan albatrosses remain, and the number is decreasing rapidly. The species is projected to become extinct within three generations, or 86 years, and has therefore been designated as critically endangered.

One major threat facing the bird is the presence of the common house mouse on Gough Island. The mice were introduced accidentally in the 19th century, and have learned to “hunt” the young birds of the island. As an adaptation for this, the mice have evolved to become 50% larger than usual. In a typical year, just one in ten albatross chicks survives to fledging.

In the southern winter of 2021, the Gough Island Restoration Programme will commence the process of mouse eradication on the island. Helicopters will distribute millions of pellets containing the rodenticide brodifacoum, dropping them throughout the rough terrain of the island in order to reach every last mouse. All staff, equipment, bait and helicopters will travel 2,800 km from southern Africa by boat - logistically a hugely complex operation - but if the project is successful, the Tristan albatross population on Gough Island may have a chance to slowly recover.