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An albatross around the neck

 Coleridge watchet ancient mariner

 The Ancient Mariner statue, Watchet, Somerset, UK by sculptor Alan Herriot (click here)

At times, we may describe our inescapable problems, unrelievable burdens, or unsurpassable barriers as an Albatross around the neck.  This idiom can refer equally to existing events or potential situations, and apply to subjects like individuals, groups, entities and infrastructure, to name but a few of its uses.  It comes from an old lyrical ballad by the English poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere:

Had I from old and young;
Instead of the Cross the Albatross
About my head was hung.

This lyrical ballad concerns the chance meeting of the Ancient Mariner with an unnamed wedding guest, whom he waylays and recites a tale about the dreadful consequences after the Ancient Mariner kills an albatross that was following his sailing ship.

The idea for this lyrical ballad is said, in part, to have arisen during a walk in the Quantock Hills in Somerset where Coleridge’s friend and poet, William Wordsworth, talked about a book he had been reading.  Wordsworth was referring to A Voyage Round the World by Way of the Great South Sea, by Captain George Shelvocke, in which there is an account of the killing of an albatross by one of his crew.

It is interesting in the light of World Albatross Day this year to see the relevant extract from Capt. Shelvocke’s account and the transformation of this into part of Coleridge’s lyrical ballad.

 A Voyage Round the World by Way of the Great South Sea

by Capt. George Shelvocke Commander of the Speedwell, Recovery, &c. in this Expedition (1726)

Thursday, October 1.[1] At 7 in the evening, as they were furling the main-sail, one William Camell cry’d out, that his hands and fingers were so benumb’d that he could not hold himself, but before those that were next to him could come to his assistance, he fell down and was drown’d.

The cold is certainly much more insupportable in these, than in the same Latitudes to the Northward; for, although we were pretty much advanced in the summer season, and had the days very long, yet we had continual squals of sleet, snow and rain, and the heavens were perpetually hid from us by the gloomy dismal clouds.

In short, one would think it impossible that any living thing could subsist in so frigid a climate; and, indeed, we all observed, that we had not had the sight of one fish of any kind, since we were come to the Southward of the streights of le Mair, [2] nor one sea-bird, except for a disconsolate black Albitross who accompanied us for several days, hovering about us as if he had lost himself, till Hatley, (my second Captain) observing, in one of his melancholy fits, that this bird was always hovering near us, imagin’d, from his colour, that it might be some ill omen.

That which, I suppose, induced him the more to encourage his superstition, was the continued series of contrary tempestuous winds, which had oppress’d us ever since we had got into this sea. But be that as it would, he, after some fruitless attempts, at length, shot the Albitross, not doubting (perhaps) that we should have a fair wind after it.

I must own, that this navigation is truly melancholy, and was the more so to us, who were by ourselves without a companion, which would have somewhat diverted our thoughts from the reflection of being in such a remote part of the world, as it were, separated from the rest of mankind to struggle with the dangers of a stormy climate, far distant from any port to have recourse to, in case of the loss of masts, or any other accident; or any other ship.

These considerations were enough to deject our spirits, when we were sensible of the hourly danger we were in of losing our masts, by the incessant continuance of such stormy weather as we underwent; but the hops of enjoying a long repose in the Pacific Sea on the coast of Peru, lightned our cares, and gave us some small relief.

Source: Shelvocke, G. 1726.  A Voyage Round the World by Way of the Great South Sea.  London: J. Senex.  pp. 72-74.

 The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere,
in seven parts

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1798)

Listen Stranger! Mist and Snow,
And it grew wond’rous cauld:
And Ice mast-high came floating by
As green as Emerauld.

And thro’ the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen;
Ne shapes of men ne beasts we ken—
The Ice was all between.

The Ice was here, the Ice was there,
The Ice was all around:
It crack’d and growl’d, and roar’d and howl’d—
Like noises of a swound.

At length did cross an albatross,
Through the Fog it came:
And an it were a Christian Soul,
We hail’d it in God’s name.

The Marineres gave it biscuit-worms,
And round and round it flew:
The Ice did split with a Thunder-fit
The Helmsman steer’d us thro’.

And a good south wind sprung up behind,
The Albatross did follow;
And every day for food or play
Came to the Marinere’s hollo!

In mist or cloud on mast or shroud
It perch’d for vespers nine,
Whiles all the night thro’ fog-smoke white
Glimmer’d the white moon-shine.

“God save the, ancient Marinere!
“From the fiends that plague thee thus—
“Why look’st thou so?”—with my cross bow
I shot the Albatross.

The Sun came up upon the right,
Out of the Sea came he;
And broad as a weft upon the left
Went down into the Sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet Bird did follow
Ne any day for food or play
Came to the Marinere’s hollo.

And I had done an hellish thing
And it would work ‘em woe;
For all averr’d, I had killed the Bird
That made the Breeze to blow.

Source: Wordsworth W. & Coleridge, S.T. 1798.  Lyrical Ballads.  London: J. & A. Arch.  pp. 8-12, lines 49-98.

[1] In the year 1719.

[2] Le Maire Strait lies between Isla de los Estados and the eastern extremity of Tierra del Fuego.

Coleridge painting 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (21 October 1772 – 25 July 1834) in his 20s in the UK National Portrait Gallery, dated 1795 by the Dutch artist Peter Vandyke (click here)

Marine ornithologists have long speculated over what species was Shelvocke’s “disconsolate black Albitross”, and thus by inference what was Coleridge’s bird.  Suggestions include a juvenile Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans, a sooty albatross Phoebetria sp., or a giant petrel Macronectes sp. (see references below).  While all are plausible, the truth will remain elusive.

Click here for earlier ACAP Latest News postings on Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his poem.

With thanks to Janine Dunlop, Niven Librarian, FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town.

Selected Literature

Barwell, G. [2007] 2014.  Coleridge’s albatross and the impulse to seabird conservation. Kunapipi 29: 22-61.

Barwell, G. 2014.  Albatross. London: Reaktion Books.  208 pp.  [REVIEW]

Bourne, W.R.P. 1982. The Ancient Mariner’s Albatross.  Sea Swallow 31: 56-57.

Brown, R.G.B. 1981.  Was Coleridge’s albatross a giant petrel?  Ibis 123: 551.

Jonathon H.S. Barrington, 15 January 2021

Are ingested plastics a substantial threat to southern albatrosses? A study of beach casts

Atlantic Yellow nosed Albatross.shoe.sole.5.jpg 

A shoe sole in the stomach of a beach-cast Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos (click here)

Lauren Roman (CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Australia) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Conservation Letters on levels of plastic ingestion in 12 species of southern hemisphere albatrosses, based on beach-cast birds.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Albatrosses are among the world’s most imperiled vertebrates, with 73% of species threatened with extinction. Ingestion of plastic is a well-recognized threat among three North Pacific species, but lesser known in the southern hemisphere, where it is considered a minor threat. As plastic entering the ocean is increasing while albatross populations decline, the threat of ocean plastic to albatross populations may be underestimated. We present case studies of 107 beach-cast albatrosses of twelve species, received by wildlife hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, and estimate plastic ingestion and mortality rates for albatrosses in the southern hemisphere. Ingested plastic was present in 5.6% of individuals, and the cause of death in half of these cases. We estimate ingestion of plastic may cause 3.4–17.5% of nearshore mortalities and is worth consideration as a substantial threat to albatross populations. We provide clinical findings and “checklist” methodologies for identifying potential cases of foreign-body gastrointestinal obstruction. We suggest practical policy responses, empowering decision makers to reduce albatross mortality from anthropogenic sources.”

 Southern Royal Albatross plastic bottle DOC 1

 Southern Royal Albatross plastic bottle DOC 2

Plastic bottle found in a Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora after death (click here)

With thanks to Barry Baker.

Reference:

Roman, L., Butcher, R.G., Stewart, D., Hunter, S., Jolly, M., Kowalski, P., Hardesty, B.D. & Lenting, B. 2020.  Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of death for southern hemisphere albatrosses.  Conservation Letters DOI: 10.1111/conl.12785.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 14 January 2021

ACAP Breeding Site No. 94. Rosemary Rock, New Zealand’s northernmost albatross colony

Rosemary Rock Jenn Carol

Rosemary Rock, photograph by Jennifer Carol

Rosemary Rock is a small islet (0.9 ha; 170 x 40 m; 50 m high) with steep cliffs in the Princes Chain of the Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands group, situated 57 km north of New Zealand’s North Island.

Rosemary Rock adults

Buller's Albatrosses on Rosemary Rock, photograph by Kevin Parker

The partially vegetated basalt islet, the smallest in the chain, supports a population of some 15-35 pairs of the globally Near Threatened and nationally Naturally Uncommon Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri first discovered on the islet in 1983. During the most recent visit in May 2020 blood samples were collected from three adults to determine the birds’ taxonomic status; results are awaited to confirm whether New Zealand’s northernmost breeding albatrosses are, as suspected, of the Northern subspecies T. b. platei.  At the time there were only six occupied nests, containing four live and two dead chicks, possibly a consequence of high temperatures in the 2019/20 breeding season causing nest failures.  Red-billed Gulls Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus also breed on the rock.

Bullers Albatross chicks Rosemary Rock Kevin Parker

Buller's Albatross chicks on Rosemary Rock, photograph by Kevin Parker

The uninhabited Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands with a total land area of 6.85 km² are managed by the local iwi (Māori tribe) Ngāti Kuri and the New Zealand Department of Conservation as a nature reserve.  Rosemary Rock is free of introduced mammals, including rodents.  Given that landing is difficult even in calm seas it seems the islet requires no additional protection.

Read an earlier ACAP Latest News post post on Rosemary Rock.

With thanks to Kevin Parker and Matt Rayner.

References:

Frost, P. 2017.  Sooty Tern: Three Kings Islands.  BirdingNZ.net.

Frost, P.G.H., Fitzgerald, N., Robinson, R. & Hamilton, O. 2018. Buller’s mollymawk (Thalassarche bulleri) on Rosemary Rock, Three Kings Islands, New Zealand. Notornis 65: 164-167.

McCallum, J., Brook, F. & Francis, M. 1985.  Buller's Mollymawks on Rosemary Rock, Three Kings Islands, in 1985.  Notornis 32: 257-259.

Powlesland, R. 1990.  Report on a visit to Great Island, of the Three Kings, 25 February – 6 March 1989.  Science and Research Internal Report No, 72 No, 72.  Wellington.: Department of Conservation.  20 pp.

Rayner, M.  2020.  Blog. The mystery of Manawatāwhi mollymawks: a history and field report.  Auckland Museum, 7 May 2020.

Rayner, M.J., Parker, K.A., Neho, T. & Hvid, T. 2020.  Buller’s mollymawk (Thalassarche bulleri platei) count at Rosemary Rock, Manawatāwhi (Three Kings Islands).  Notornis 67: 580-582.

Wright, A.E. 1984. Buller's Mollymawks breeding at the Three Kings Islands.  Notornis 31: 203-207.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 January 2021

Brazilian artist Wendell Ribeiro passes away leaving a World Albatross Day portrait to help conservation

 Atlantic Yellow nosed Albatross Wendell Ribeiro

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross by Wendell Ribeiro

For the first two months of last year ACAP collaborated with Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) to produce artworks that were used to support the inaugural World Albatross Day on 19 June.  Over a hundred artists contributed, and their artworks have been used to produce posters, a video and to illustrate posts to ACAP Latest News.  As ABUN and ACAP embark on a second collaboration this month entitled “Painting Petrels in Peril”, comes the sad news that one of the collaborating artists who painted albatrosses last year for ‘WAD2020’ has passed away.  ABUN co-founder Kitty Harvill writes evocatively below on the ABUN Facebook page of the passing of Brazilian artist, Wendell Ribeiro in a vehicle accident at the age of 46 on 8 January.

Wendell Ribeiro Birgitte Tummler

Wendell Ribeiro, together with fellow ABUN artist, Birgitte Tūmmler

“It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of our ABUN member, Wendell Ribeiro. I am so incredibly saddened by this news.  What a wonderful, positive, supportive and talented person Wendell was.  He was so encouraging to me as a foreigner as in love with his Brazilian nature as he was.  He will be deeply missed.  I'm sharing Wendell's artwork for ABUN in 2020, to honour this kind and gentle man.  Deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.  We are all blessed that he touched our lives and brought joy to this world”.

Wendell was an English teacher in Pouso Alegre, a small country city in Minas Gerais, a State in south-eastern Brazil, who had only discovered his artistic talent in the last few years.  His beautiful rendition of an Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos that he produced was inspired by a photograph taken on Gough Island by Michelle Risi.  His painting will continue to be used by ACAP to illustrates its posts and products to help increase awareness of the plight facing the world’s albatrosses, in a small way helping to mark his memory.

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses on Gough Island, photograph by Michelle Risi

With thanks to ABUN artists and Wendell’s friends, Kitty Harvill and Birgitte Tūmmler.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 12 January 2020

ACAP’s theme for this year’s World Albatross Day on 19 June is “Ensuring Albatross-friendly Fisheries”

WALD Logo 2021 01 English 

The WAD logo for 2021 is available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish; designed by Geoffry Tyler

Following on from last year’s World Albatross Day theme of “Eradicating Island Pests”, ACAP’s chosen theme for 2021 is “Ensuring Albatross-friendly Fisheries”.  The large number of albatrosses and petrels killed by fisheries was the main driving force for the establishment of ACAP two decades ago and addressing this continuing conservation problem remains an important part of ACAP’s ongoing work.  A new ACAP World Albatross Day Group has been formed with members Jonathon Barrington (Australia), John Cooper (ACAP Information Officer), Verónica López (Chile), Tatiana Neves (Brazil), Stephanie Prince (UK) and Michelle Risi (South Africa).  The ‘WAD Group’ has a geographical (and language) spread, along with experience from research, NGO and governmental backgrounds.

DCIM\107GOPRO

Tristan Albatross and chick on Gough Island, photograph by Michelle Risi

In support of World Albatross Day ACAP intends to highlight one or more of the 22 albatross species each year with posters and other artworks.  The featured species chosen for 2021 are the two most threatened albatrosses, both categorized by IUCN as Critically Endangered (defined as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild).  They are the Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena of the United Kingdom’s Gough and Inaccessible Islands and the Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata of Ecuador’s Islas Española and  de la Plata.  The posters depicted here of these two species were designed by Michelle Risi.  They will also be produced with French and Spanish texts.  Downloadable high-resolution versions in all three ACAP languages suitable for framing and display will be posted to this website in the coming days.  Scroll down here to read two-page illustrated species summaries for the Tristan and Waved Albatrosses that are aimed at school learners and the general public .

WAD2021 WAVAL English

Waved Albatrosses of Isla Española, Galapagos Islands, photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

The WAD Group is working towards other products and activities to increase awareness of the conservation crisis that continues to be faced by the world’s albatrosses and petrels.  Look out for more posts to ACAP Latest News on ‘WAD2021’ between now and 19 June!

With thanks to Laurie Smaglick Johnson and Geoffry Tyler.

John Cooper, Jonathon Barrington, Verónica López, Tatiana Neves, Stephanie Prince & Michelle Risi, ACAP World Albatross Day Group, 11 January 2021

The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

About ACAP

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Hobart TAS 7000
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