WANDERING ALBATROSS
Diomedea exulans
Meet the biggest bird in the world – at least in terms of its wingspan. These giant sea birds glide over the ocean with a wingspan up to 3.35 metres wide. Wings of this immense size mean that these albatrosses can spend large amounts of time in the air; for example, one bird was recorded to have wandered around 3,700 miles in only 12 days. There are 23 species of albatross, but unfortunately all but one are either threatened or vulnerable to extinction. This is due to the birds getting caught in hooks and nets while scavenging fish and squid bait from fishing vessels and trawlers.