ALBATROSS

Recently Light-mantled Albatross, a species native to the Antarctic seas, was recorded in Tamil Nadu.
The location where the Albatross was spotted is part of the Palk Bay and near the Gulf of Mannar, an ‘Important Bird Area’ on India’s southeast coast.
This record from the Palk Bay side of Rameswaramisland is significant, and it throws up new challenges to researchers once these Antarctic birds migrate to Asia.
This finding also directs researchers to look for bird migration away from the well-known and established routes and sites.
As the nearest recorded site of the bird is around 5,000 km away from Rameswaram, a change in atmospheric pressure may be among the reasons for the Albatross to land on an Indian shore.

Light-mantled Albatross

Scientific Name: Phoebetriapalpebrate

Also, known as the grey-mantled albatross or the light-mantled sooty albatross.
Light-mantled albatrosses spend most of their lives in flight. A juvenile may spend many years at sea before returning to breed.
The Light-mantled Albatross, with broad pelagic habits, maintains a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Ocean.

Appearance:

Ash coloured with darker areas around the head and lighter areas across the back and wingtips.
Distinctive white stripe immediately above the eye.
A worldwide population of 21,600 breeding pairs, according to an estimate in 1998.
IUCN Red List- Near Threatened

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT

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