By Obiabin Onukwugha
Albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and species of the genus Diomedea (great albatrosses). They have the longest wingspans of any extant birds, reaching up to 3.7 m (12 ft).
Albatrosses are highly efficient in the air, using dynamic soaring and slope soaring to cover great distances with little exertion.
They feed on squid, fish, and krill by either scavenging, surface seizing, or diving.
Albatrosses are colonial, nesting for the most part on remote oceanic islands.
Males and female albatross can bond for several years or life time. The male uses “ritualised dances”, to attract the female..
Albatross lay one egg at a time and breeding season can take over a year from laying to fledging.
Most species survive upwards of 50 years, the oldest recorded being a Laysan albatross named Wisdom that was ringed in 1956 as a mature adult and hatched another chick in February 2021, making her at least 70 years old. She is the oldest confirmed wild bird and the oldest banded bird in the world.
Albatrosses are threatened by introduced species, such as rats and feral cats that attack eggs, chicks, and nesting adults. Also numbers of albatrosses have declined in the past due to harvesting for feathers.
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Why Albatross is warrior among birds
Long time ago on a stormy day a little hatchling albatross was born. The first thing it saw was its parent and the first thing that it wanted down its trout was chewed up fish from its mother’s mouth.
Soon, the little albatross was becoming a fine warrior but to become a really great warrior he had to do a long journey half way across the world and accomplish his three quests from the wise owl.
First he had to live on the sea for about ten days eating fish sleeping on the water and he was wet and cold. When his ten days finished he set of to the sun to continue his long and dangerous journey to the wise owl.
Next he was faced with the most evil animal in the world, Gary the wolf! The battle began and Gary was laughing and said” ha I have to kill you not a problem let’s get on with it” Ha! Ha! Ha! Soon, the battle was dangerous but at the end the albatross defeated the wolf.
Last but not least was the wise owl the challenge of all challenges.
Four hours latter, the challenge began it was hard for the bird because he never learned those skills before he was busy fighting and flying like a real warrior. At the end he was defeated.
The albatross thought he would never become a warrior and lost everything but the wise owl said to him that he would become a warrior even though he didn’t finish all his quest.
So the wise owl asked the bird if he had a name but his parents never gave him one. So the wise owl gave him one. He called the bird Jim the brave warrior.
