Nesting increase gives new hope for albatross survival

THE wandering albatross (right) has a new lease on life on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, with pairs of the giant bird nesting in numbers not seen for more than a decade.

Ten nests were discovered across summer, including on the remote island’s northwest coast, a breeding spot not used since 1967.

Six of the eggs had hatched when Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Sara Larcombe completed a survey this month.

The world-heritage listed island’s wandering albatross population has declined steadily over decades, due mainly to hunting and human activity.

Feral rabbits, introduced by sailors as a food source in the early 1800s, also severely hampered the species’ breeding.

But a large-scale feral animal eradication campaign, which resulted in the island being declared pest-free in 2014, appears to be paying dividends.

Promisingly, two of the pairs Ms Larcombe saw were first-time breeders, after just three chicks hatched the previous summer.

Many of the chicks have been fitted with bands to help researchers keep tabs on their movements.

Some wandering albatrosses, which grow to a wingspan of up to 3.5m, can cover 120,000km in one year.