It was nesting season for black-browed albatrosses while I was in the Falklands. They nest in large noisy colonies along cliffs and steep slopes, providing great take-off terrain. They build distinctive turret nests out of mud, grass, tussock, poo and seaweed – the taller the turret the older the nest. They can add about an inch in height each year and reuse the same nest. They lay a single egg which needs constant warming and guarding – a responsibility shared by both parents for the 70 days it takes to hatch. Skuas and other birds wait on the periphery for any opportunity to rush in and grab an egg.
