Rising Tide Images
Pelagic Nomadic
Returning to land after months of nomadic wandering over tens of thousands of miles of open ocean, this mōlī, or Laysan albatross, was one of the first to arrive at the nesting colony for this year’s breeding season. Mōlī wander for thousands of solitary miles over the Pacific using their remarkable olfactory acuity to locate surface forage at upwelling sites. Expending very little energy on flight, albatross efficiently use dynamic soaring to skim the water, rising on the wind and descending forward by gravity acceleration. Bones lock into position requiring no muscle exertion to keep the two-meter wingspan extended. I can watch them tirelessly for hours, envious of their effortless soaring.
Pelagic Nomadic
Returning to land after months of nomadic wandering over tens of thousands of miles of open ocean, this mōlī, or Laysan albatross, was one of the first to arrive at the nesting colony for this year’s breeding season. Mōlī wander for thousands of solitary miles over the Pacific using their remarkable olfactory acuity to locate surface forage at upwelling sites. Expending very little energy on flight, albatross efficiently use dynamic soaring to skim the water, rising on the wind and descending forward by gravity acceleration. Bones lock into position requiring no muscle exertion to keep the two-meter wingspan extended. I can watch them tirelessly for hours, envious of their effortless soaring.