Seeing an albatross glide and soar effortlessly over stormy seas in winds that would easily topple you is pure magic. Albatrosses embody the power and mystery of the oceans. Their endearing, clumsy waddle on land contrasts sharply with their elaborate and graceful courtship rituals, in which they forge bonds that last a lifetime.
For nearly two decades, I have had the privilege of working with seabirds, witnessing albatrosses in t heir wild, untamed habitats, both at sea and on land. One moment remains etched in my memory. On a distant Southern Ocean island, surrounded by the profound silence only the remotest places offer, I heard a whoosh. I felt the air shift before I looked up to see the almost 3.5-metre wingspan of an enormous bird soaring above me, almost close enough to touch. This breathtaking sight of a majestic giant in its element left me utterly humbled and in awe.
Albatross parents rarely meet at the nest. Relying on their unbreakable bond, they forage independently, often covering thousands of kilometres to find food. They return briefly to feed their chick before setting off again on another epic journey.
‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, a poem by Coleridge that tells of the curse of killing an albatross, haunts me when I remember watching an albatross chick’s life slip away as it succumbed to wounds inflicted by invasive mice, which were inadvertently introduced to the island. Though I wasn’t personally responsible, the scene drove home the devastating impact we humans can have on the environment, and the urgent need for action.
On that heart-wrenching day, moments after the chick’s last agonising breath, the mother albatross landed close to the nest with a crop full of squid. Sensing something was wrong, she desperately tried to rouse her chick, nudging it repeatedly. Soon, the father arrived. They exchanged their customary greeting, touching bills and making muted sounds, before he too approached the nest.
The next half hour was the most poignant and heartbreaking display of animal behaviour I have ever witnessed. The father nudged the lifeless chick, circling the nest as the mother had done, trying to wake it. Eventually, the mother joined him, and together they made repeated attempts to revive their baby, the pair repeatedly touching bills, coming to terms with the loss of their chick, which they had committed to nurturing for 13 months.
Finally, they moved a few metres away, continuing to groom and touch bills before flying off.
The conservation of these magnificent birds transcends our duty to protect biodiversity. It speaks to the profound beauty and sanctity of all living creatures and touches the core of our humanity, reminding us that we are inextricably connected to all life on earth.
– Andrea Angel
This captivating and informative book focuses on the coastal and terrestrial bird species most at risk within South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. Presented in an elegant large format, Birds on the Brink highlights the beauty, unique traits and vulnerabilities of these birds, while emphasising the human-induced threats, such as habitat loss, climate change, energy infrastructure and competition for resources. Personal accounts from scientists, conservationists and guides on the front lines offer insight into the science, skill and dedication required to safeguard these species. The birds featured are not merely fascinating creatures – they act as sentinels of biodiversity, whose decline signals concerning ecological shifts.
