Albatrosses are masters of soaring flight, able to glide over vast tracts of ocean without flapping their wings. So fully have they adapted to their oceanic existence that they spend the first six or more years of their long lives (which last upwards of 50 years) without ever touching land.

Why do albatross travel so far?

Albatrosses soar with amazing prowess over the Southern Ocean using a flying technique called dynamic soaring. Dynamic soaring allows albatrosses to tap into the energy of the wind and can be used when the wind speed is higher than 30 km per hour, or 18 mph – which it usually is.

How do albatross fly for so long?

How Does Dynamic Soaring Work? In dynamic soaring, albatrosses take advantage of the changing speeds and directions of the wind relative to the ocean's surface. Albatrosses are known to use dynamic soaring to fly very long distances without flapping their wings.