Last July, Europe’s only albatross returned to Yorkshire, England. Nicknamed Albie, this unusual albatross bird is said to have lived in the Northern Hemisphere since 2014. It is so famous that Albie’s annual flight is known to scientists, zoologists and legends who follow information. However, the reason Albie is famous is not happy at all: this is the “loneliest” albatross in the world.
lonely seagull
Albert, also known as Albie, belongs to the genus of albatrosses (Albatross), the largest and most common bird in the Seagull family. Albie also has no physical characteristics unlike millions of her own kind. Yet it is known for its enigmatic existence: Albie lives in Europe.
Albie is a dark brown albatross, now about 10 years old and of medium size with a wingspan of 200-240 cm. The gender is still undetermined, although it has been given a rather masculine name by people.
The great albatross, or any type of albatross, is never found in Europe in particular and in the Northern Hemisphere in general. Gulls are seabirds and can only live in the southern hemisphere. The great albatross lives mainly in the waters of the South Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. But for some unknown reason, Albie appeared in central Europe, on the mainland, in the northern hemisphere and has remained here for many years.
It is thought that Albie was blown away by the strong equatorial winds and was unable to return to her habitat due to the distance. No matter how many years it flies, Albie can’t return to the sea. She’s unlikely to make it home because the equatorial winds are quite weak, and the chances of a wind so strong it could “blow” Albie to the southern hemisphere is slim.
Albie’s birthplace may be in the Falklands and South Georgia
Gulls are known to be loyal and monogamous, meaning bird pairs will mate for life and can sometimes stay together for up to 70 years of their lives. For Albie, the only albatross bird in Europe, the result is that Albie will forever be unable to find a partner or even friends in her life.
A journey viewed around the world
The albatross Albie was regularly sighted at the RSPB’s Bempton Cliff Nature Reserve last summer and is now back after staying nearby. Ever since he was accidentally discovered by scientists in 2014, Albie has always been closely watched.
Albie the albatross will live forever without any form
Although it is free to live in the wild, but being the only albatross in Europe, Albie’s trail is still very easy to detect. Following Albie’s journey has also become a hobby of many people who enjoy studying birds in particular and animals in general.
There are even celebrities who visited Albie when it was discovered that permanently resides in the Bempton Cliff Nature Reserve such as writer Bill Oddie, actor Samuel West, .. Albie is a factor “attraction” of this reserve. People want to go to Bempton Cliff to see ‘the loneliest seagull in the world’ spreading its wings in the sky.
Albie’s lonely journey is pretty much set. In addition to regularly living in Bempton Cliff. In winter it is found near the North Sea in Germany and in Northern Europe.
Albie keeps her lonely trip every year
The Bempton Cliffs RSPB Nature Reserve is home to half a million species of seabirds. Albie is still occasionally seen as a “companion” with platypuses, razorbills and even penguins,…but none are of his kind and can really accompany Albie. Yet Albie was still alone, free and proud in the air, continuing her solo journey forever.
Source: Independent, The Guardian
