The gooney bird is a magnificent flyer and the beloved friend of all who venture into deep waters. The bird’s wing span is considerably large and enables the gooney to glide on the wind currents for hours on end. The bird is able to stay aloft even in strong gusts and can cover great distances. The adult birds prefer to breed and raise their chicks in and around the Hawaiian islands.
The Mariner’s Friend
Scan the sky above a ship’s wake and look for the silhouette of a gooney bird, also known as an albatross, floating in the air. The ship’s propellers churn up fish eggs and bits of squid and graceful gooney birds keep a watchful eye for something to eat. Gooneys often scoop up surface food but some will dive to a depth of five meters to snag a meal. Sailors have revered the bird for centuries and feel the bird’s presence is a good omen.
Flight Plan
Check out the wings of a gooney. It is not uncommon for the birds to have wings that measure up to seven feet from wing-tip to wing-tip. Wings of this size need a large amount of “lift” during the period of take off. Consequently, the bird requires a lengthy running start to become airborne. A gooney bobs its head from side to side as it gallops the length of a beach until enough lift builds up under its wings and elevates the bird into the air.
Landing
Scanning a radar screen or checking flight instruments is a science unknown to these birds. They approach land without decreasing their speed enough to ease into a fluid decent; instead, gooney birds use the “controlled crash” method of landing and often skid along the ground on their chest feathers and come to an abrupt halt with their beaks stuck in the sand. The bird’s awkward method of landing gave rise to the origin of the bird’s nickname “Gooney Bird.”