Tim writes: the parent Black-browed Albatrosses build a huge egg cup-shaped nest out of mud so they usually only nest next to streams where they have a ready supply of mud within beak’s reach, but they will repair and re-use the nest in subsequent years. On the Falklands where I photographed these, Black-browed Albatrosses lay a single egg from early September to early October and share incubation duties until it hatches after about 70 days. The chick is fed by both parents for 120-130 days when it fledges. They return to the natal colony after about three years to learn the ropes, but don’t usually start breeding until they are ten years old.
