Albatross - Their World, Their Ways
If you have ever seen an albatross then you are sure to remember exactly where and when that was, and also the effect it had on you at the time. This bird really is the avian personification of freedom, elegance and majesty, and surely no one can remain unmoved at seeing these ocean giants.
The recently published IOC list of bird names has just 13 species of albatross, but Albatross –their World, their Ways follows BirdLife International by recognising a total of 22 species – mainly by splitting the different forms of Wandering and Shy Albatross to boost the total. The oldest known Northern Royal Albatross was at least 61 years old, and one Wandering Albatross was tracked over 2,761 miles in just over three days!
To collect the images for this book, Tui de Roy and Mark Jones undertook seven trips, travelling around the remote nesting areas of each species in a 13-metre steel cutter. The stories behind these journeys are told in eight short chapters, making up a section entitled Spirits of the Oceans Wild. A second section is a collection of 18 essays by world experts on albatross ecology and conservation. These cover a multitude of topics such as satellite tracking, migration and breeding, but a common theme is the serious concern about the declines in populations in the last few years. A glimmer of hope is given by Ben Sullivan of the RSPB, who explains the work of the Albatross Task Force in adapting the equipment used on longline trawlers.
A third section looks at each of the species in detail, with taxonomic information, descriptions of plumage, population and distribution, breeding ecology, food and threats. A distribution map is included, along with a range of photographs. The only thing lacking is a set of illustrations of the birds in flight to assist with identification at sea.
Finally, there is a short guide to 10 destinations where albatrosses can be seen at the nest or at sea. There is also an extensive glossary of 74 terms used in the book.
This substantial volume has a clear message: albatrosses are both fascinating and threatened – four species are classed as Critically Endangered. The populations of almost all of the 22 species are declining. The only one increasing is Short-tailed Albatross – the second rarest of the family.
The publisher has resisted the temptation to produce a coffee table book that lacks substance. This book contains art as well as hard facts.
Tech spec
• Albatross – their World, their Ways by Tui de Roy, Mark Jones and Julian Fitter (Christopher Helm, London, 2008).
• 240 pages, more than 300 colour photographs.
• ISBN 9781554074150. Hbk. £35.00.
Available from Birdwatch bookshop
First published in Birdwatch 198:54 (December 2008)
