NESTING LAYSAN ALBATROSS BY PHILHABER

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LARGER VIEW, OR MORE OF PHIL'S PHOTOS, PLEASE CLICK HERE >

About the photo...

Phil says... " These two were doing something that certainly looked like a dance when I took this photo, involving bobbing up and down and seeming to click their beaks together."

This photo was taken on March 11, 2012 in Princeville, Hawaii, US, using a Nikon D300. 

Exposure: 1/640

Aperture: f/7.1

ISO: 400

Focal Length: 400mm

About the bird species...

The Laysan Albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis, is a large seabird that ranges across the North Pacific.

The Laysan Albatross averages 81 cm (32 in) in length, and has a wingspan of 195–203 cm (77–80 in).

Courtship entails especially elaborate 'dances' that have up to 25 ritualized movements.

The Laysan Albatross is normally a silent bird, but on occasion they may be observed emitting long "moo"-ing sounds, descending whinnies, or rattles.Female Laysan albatrosses bond for life, so they can cooperatively raise their young.

The IUCN has classified the Laysan Albatross as vulnerable due to drastic reductions in populations; however recent studies show that the population may be rebounding.

Source: Wikipedia

• 14/10/2012 17:39 - TOTW
• 01/10/2012 18:53 - TOTW
• 23/09/2012 17:29 - FBOTW
• 23/09/2012 17:17 - TOTW
• 17/09/2012 17:36 - TOTW
• 09/09/2012 12:45 - TOTW
• 06/09/2012 18:29 - FBOTW
• 05/09/2012 17:54 - VOTE FOR THE AUGUST 2012 GLOBALBIRDTREKKERS AND FLICKR GROUP TOTW WINNER!