Mated pair

Albatross adolescents spend several years in courtship, then choose a mate when they are 8-9 years old.  Mate for life  sounds romantic—and indeed they make it so —but in reality means the equivalent of only a few days per year together.  After long separations the birds enthusiastically reunite.  Parents equally share all egg-sitting and chick-feeding duties.

More albatross pictures.