Thursday, 25 November 2021

Albatross on a Hot Tin Roof?

Albatross are one of the most reliably monogamous birds. Pairs can stay together for decades. A Royal Society study of 15,500 pairs of breeding Black-browed albatross suggests, however, that things are changing (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/24/climate-crisis-pushes-albatross-divorce-rates-higher-study). The normal rate of breakdown of pair bonds in the species is 1-3%. In recent times, however, global heating, with warming seas, have forced the albatross to travel much further, when foraging for food for their chick. This stresses the birds and has resulted in the 'divorce rate' (breakdown of the pair bond) climbing to 8%. The bird's mating system seems to be failing, as temperatures continue to rise.
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