Feature Stories - Lord of the Wings (24) More files...
The wingspan of the wandering albatross - which can reach up to 3.7m - is the largest of any living bird, allowing it to ride ocean winds and remain in the air for several hours at a time, without even a flap of its wings.

In January of 2015, the once-a-decade South Georgia wandering albatross survey took place on South Georgia. Photographer Chris Fallows travelled to the subantarctic island with a dedicated team of researchers, led by Sally Poncet from the Antarctic Research Trust, to document this extraordinary species in its natural habitat. Sally's team discovered that there had been a roughly 12% decline in nest numbers since the last full survey in 2004, a lot less than the expected 10% per annum.

'By the time the next survey is conducted,' says Chris, 'I hope there will be more Wanderers rising from the islands to meet the wind.'

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King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony at sunrise. Grytviken, South Georgia Island.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony at sunrise. Grytviken, South Georgia Island.
King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group on ice preparing to dive. South Georgia Island.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group on ice preparing to dive. South Georgia Island.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), feeding and cleaning.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), feeding and cleaning.
Wandering albatross, (Diomedea exulans), fighting for fish scraps.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross, (Diomedea exulans), fighting for fish scraps.
King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony at sunrise. Grytviken, South Georgia Island.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony at sunrise. Grytviken, South Georgia Island.
King penguin chicks (Aptenodytes patagonicus) South Georgia Island, Antarctica
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Chris & Monique Fallows / King penguin chicks (Aptenodytes patagonicus) South Georgia Island, Antarctica
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), engaged in mating display. South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) flying off coast of South Georgia Island. Silhouetted.
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Chris & Monique Fallows / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) flying off coast of South Georgia Island. Silhouetted.