The Buller's Albatross

Named after the lawyer and ornithologist Walter Buller, Buller’s Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri or Diomedea bulleri, is a relatively small mollymawk, normally to be found around New Zealand and the Southern Pacific.

In terms of breeding populations though the Buller’s Albatross is confined to the islands of New Zealand, where all 32,000 breeding pairs make their nests. This low number of birds is of concern, although no albatross is especially populous, and currently the Buller’s Albatross is classed as being Near Threatened in terms of endangerment. This though is an improvement on only a few years ago when the bird was classed as Vulnerable. Numbers have remained stable for a number of years, despite the continued threat of longline fishing.

Buller's Albatross or Buller's Mollymawk - Sabine's Sunbird - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Despite its relatively small range, some sources do name two subspecies, Diomedea bulleri bulleri, or the Southern Buller’s Albatross, and Diomedea bulleri plateir, the Northern Buller’s Albatross. In terms of appearance though there is not a great deal of difference.

The adult Buller’s Albatross is normally about 80cm long, with a wingspan of about 205cm. These birds tend to have silvery-grey foreheads; with the rest of the head and throat being grey. They also have white rumps and under areas, with a dark grey back, tail and upper wing areas. The Northern Buller’s Albatross is normally slightly darker grey. The bills of these albatrosses are large and black, with splashes of yellow.

The Buller’s Albatross feeds mainly on fish and squid, although shrimps, lobsters and octopuses often supplement their diet. Food is foraged for often by individual birds, although groups do gather around abundant sources. Buller’s Albatrosses have the ability to make shallow dives as well as surface plunges. The aid in the excretion of excessive salt levels, the Buller’s Albatross has a nasal salt gland. The Buller’s Albatross may fly for many miles, and like many of their family, they are able to produce energy rich stomach oil. This oil is also useful in feeding young during the breeding season.

Buller's Albatross - Duncan Wright - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The breeding season of the Buller’s Albatross is a colonial affair, and largish groups of mating birds form on Snares Island, Solander Islanders, Forty-fours Island, Big Sister and Little Sister Islands. Nests are constructed on cliffs, in meadows and under trees, with the nests being a mound constructed from soil and vegetation.

Buller’s Albatrosses start to breed when they are ten years old; these birds are long lived, often reaching thirty years of age. Breeding subsequently is an annual occurrence. A single egg is laid into the nest, and is then incubated for two months. Each parent undertakes alternate ten day shifts in sitting on the egg. Once hatched fledging of the chick takes up to six months.

Currently the future of the Buller’s Albatross is looking relative good, with some evidence in increasing breeding numbers. Low population levels and a relatively limited range in terms of breeding areas though means that nothing is certain though.

Copyright - First Published 10th November 2011

Keywords -  Buller’s Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri, Buller's mollyhawk, Diomedea bulleri,