Shy Albatross

Winter is the best time to see the magnificent Shy Albatross on our Wildlife Cruises along the coast of Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. With their impressive 2.5m wingspan, they skim effortlessly above the sea surface. Shy Albatross feed by a combination surface-seizing and some pursuit diving – it has been recorded diving as deep as 7m. They mainly eat fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans.

The Shy Albatross is endemic to Australia and it breeds on three island colonies; Albatross Island, Pedra Branca, and the Mewstone. They breed on rocky islands and builds mounded nests of soil, grass, and roots. They lay one egg in the second half of September. The incubation of a single egg is carried out by both sexes in alternate shifts, with a single shift averaging four days. During this time the albatross can be seen foraging for food in Bass Strait, including Phillip Island and Wilsons Prom.