Southern Royal Albatross

Diomedea epomophora

Like a giant pterodactyl. Like a ghostly white spirit, a southern royal albatross appeared. With a wingspan over 3 meters (12 feet) they are one of the largest albatross on earth, second only to wandering albatross.

These birds are just visitors to Tairoa Head unlike the breeding colony of Northern Royals here. They mostly breed in the sub-antarctic Campbell Islands further south, though sometimes hybridize with the Northern Royals.

Long regarded with superstition by sailors albatross bring both good luck or bad depending on how you look at them. They are both harbingers of storms and the bringers of favorable winds. They are the wind riders.