Seed Media Group

Zooillogix

Don't Stick Your Fingers in the Cage

Search this blog

Video of the Week

Stingray Giving Birth

Bleiman Brothers Profile

isopod%201.jpg
In the wild, Andrew feeds on fish, sponges, small crustaceans, nematode worms and protozoans.

javanensis.GIF
Benny's diet is very specialized, consisting mainly of the interior of Ramy nuts, nectar from the Traveller's Palm tree, some fungi and insect grubs. He is also known to raid coconut plantations, and has been seen eating lychees and mangoes, which are also plantation crops.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Blogroll



Look How Important We Are


Nature Blog Network

View blog authority

Add to Technorati Favorites



Science Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

Read the super-informative Interview with the Bleiman Brothers

World's Largest Zoo and Shot Glass Collection


Now accepting donations in exchange for recognition and fame on Zooillogix!

Mystic%20Aquarium%20Shotglass2b.jpg
Currently Featured: Mystic Aquarium generously donated by Eric Heupel of The Other 95%

The List:
Adventure Aquarium
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Florida Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium
Knoxville Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Maritime Center in Norwalk, CT
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
New York Aquarium
Newport Aquarium
Philadelphia Zoo
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
San Diego Zoo
Sea World San Diego
Shedd Aquarium
Smithsonian National Zoo
South Carolina Aquarium
Tennessee Aquarium
Feed me Seymour!

« Squid Have Teeth Like Old Men | Main | Scientists Find/Kill Oldest Living Creature on Record: 400 Year-Old Clam »

Albatrosses Have No Idea Where They're Going

Category: bird
Posted on: October 26, 2007 3:41 PM, by Benny Bleiman

Who would have thought that the wandering albatross flew around the earth randomly with absolutely no plan? Apparently the person who named it.

Albatross.jpg
According to some fishermen, albatrosses look "wicked baked."

Scientists used to believe that albatrosses followed a strange mathematical formula when flying around the globe in search of food. Turns out they were wrong. New data suggests that albatrosses have no rhyme or...

reason to their movements, and indeed are flying long distances completely randomly.

According to this article in the New Zealand Herald, data gathered over ten years ago suggested that the albatrosses followed a pattern called a Levy flight. Sayeth the article, "A Levy flight occurs when a search is conducted in a semi-orderly manner, with clusters of short searches over a relatively small area interweaved between long-distance flights from one region to another. Mathematicians showed this was an optimal strategy for foraging for sparse food."

Nope. They don't. Using sophisticated logging instruments and reviewing the previous research, scientists found that the birds do not conform to the formula as previously thought. Not only that but it turns out the old research into bees and deer saying these creatures followed the Levy pattern was also false.

Albatross%20II.jpg
The sequel to the critically acclaimed Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Joe Bob the Dumbass Albatross did not fare as well on the best seller lists

Albatrosses are one of the most well traveled creatures on the globe, able to fly distances of over 1.5 million MILES in its lifetime. Yeah, we said it, 1.5 million. Plus, they're mentioned in a sweet Pink Floyd song. What have you done with your life?

Comments

Two words... ROAD TRIP!!!!1!!11!!

Posted by: speedwell | October 26, 2007 5:27 PM

When you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

Posted by: The Ridger | October 26, 2007 6:49 PM

Manual trackback

Posted by: John Lynch | October 26, 2007 9:51 PM

Great albatross photo. Any thoughts on the best ocean theme horror movie? http://blogfishx.blogspot.com/2007/10/best-ocean-theme-horror-movie.html

Posted by: Mark Powell | October 27, 2007 1:28 AM

Looks like you've 'tag'teamed! We are expecting you to deliver too ;p

Happy Hallowmeme from The Other 95!

Posted by: kevin z | October 27, 2007 8:59 PM

Interestingly, Cmdr. Fluckey (USN) found tagged albatrosses (albatrosi?) from Wake Island flying (and swimming) around the Kurile Islands north of Japan during World War 2. He describes writing to the National Geographic Society to inform them of this, as until that time no-one had known where the Wake albatros-plurals (whatever it is) went during their migrations. I wonder how this would square with the latest research?

Posted by: Peter | October 27, 2007 11:31 PM

Post a Comment

(Email is required for authentication purposes only. Comments are moderated for spam, your comment may not appear immediately. Thanks for waiting.)





Having problems commenting? (UPDATED)

Blogs in the Network

Advertisement

Top Five: Most German

Search All Blogs

Top Science Stories

powered by SEED - seedmagazine.com