Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

With a wingspan of over 3m, the wandering albatross has the biggest feeding range of any bird. Throughout the winter they remain in nesting sites in the south where they escape the worst of the freeze. An adult can travel 5,000 miles to collect squid for its young. Albatross chicks are the biggest of any seabird and can weigh up to 10kg, more than the adult. Hatched the previous March, the chicks sit unshielded while the worst of the winter weather rages around them. Every 3 or 4 days for 10 months, the parents return from feeding forays to the open sea to feed their chicks.

Clip Info
  • Clip length: 3'04''
  • Broadcast year: 1993
Curriculum Connection
  • Biology
Access

Licence: ERA Licence required

Usage

UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted

Content
  • Provider: BBC
  • Channel: BBC Two
  • Programme: Life in the Freezer
  • Episode: The Bountiful Sea