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An Antipodean Albatross Diomedea a. antipodensis carrying New Zealand band R-56102/W753 was photographed ashore on Wanderer Ridge, Bird Island, South Georgia (Islas Georgia del Sur)* on 24 March 2010 by Derren Fox.

The bird was banded as a large chick close to fledging on 1 January 2004 on Antipodes Island south of New Zealand by Kath Walker and Graeme Elliott, so was a subadult of seven years of age and considered to be a female from its plumage when it landed on Bird Island.  It has not previously been seen back at the Antipodes since it fledged.

Antipodean Albatrosses, also known as Antipodean Wandering Albatrosses, have been seen ashore away from their breeding island on Macquarie, Campbell and Chatham Islands, breeding in small numbers at the last two islands.  However, this is the first record of one ashore outside the Pacific Ocean.  Satellite-tracked Antipodean Albatrosses (but only males so far in their non-breeding season) have travelled eastwards to Chilean waters.  None has yet gone around Cape Horn into the South Atlantic.

Click here for the ACAP Species Assessment for the Antipodean Albatross, which maps at-sea distribution from satellite tracking.  See also BirdLife International's albatross tracking report at http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/seabirds/tracking_ocean_wanderers.pdf.

Reference:

Walker, K. & Elliott, G. 2006.  At-sea distribution of Gibson's and Antipodean Wandering Albatrosses, and relationships with longline fisheries.  Notornis 53: 265-290.

With thanks to Derren Fox, Richard Phillips and Kath Walker.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 25 April 2010

*A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Islas Georgias del Sur y Islas Sandwich del Sur) and the surrounding maritime areas.