---
title: "Developing a tradition:  albatross-breeding islands display banners for another year to celebrate World Albatross Day on 19 June"
---

# Developing a tradition:  albatross-breeding islands display banners for another year to celebrate World Albatross Day on 19 June

*![Maquarie Island WAD2024 banner form Melanie Wells](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Maquarie_Island_WAD2024_banner_form_Melanie_Wells.jpg)  
Australia’s Macquarie Island marks World Albatross Day 2024 with a banner, Wandering Albatross decoy models and outstretched arms, photograph from Melanie Wells*

 With what seems to be [a tradition that has been steadily growing since 2020](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3115355551858156&type=3), albatross islands in the Southern Ocean have once more displayed banners to celebrate [World Albatross Day](https://www.acap.aq/world-albatross-day/wad2024-marine-protected-areas), held two days ago on 19 June.  This year’s crop of photographs follows – well done to all the island teams!

 *![M81 Sponsors Ha for WAD](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/M81_Sponsors_Ha_for_WAD.jpg)  
The 19-strong overwintering team on Marion Island, (the 81st since occupation in 1947) has pooled its resources to sponsor a hectare to the [Mouse-Free Marion Project](https://mousefreemarion.org) to mark World Albatross Day on 19 June and its 2024 theme of “[Marine Protected Areas – Safeguarding our Oceans](https://www.acap.aq/world-albatross-day/wad2024-marine-protected-areas)”, photograph from Vanessa Stephen and**Monique van Bers  
![Gouigh 69 WAD2024 banner](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Gouigh_69_WAD2024_banner.JPG)  
The 69th Overwintering Team on Gough Island in the South Atlantic poses with its recycled WAD2024 banner - and a decoy*

 *![Bird Island WAD2024 Liz Holmes 2](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Bird_Island_WAD2024_Liz_Holmes_2.jpeg)  
Out in the snow.  The four-person overwintering team on Bird Island has gone with plasticine Light-mantled and Wandering Albatrosses to hold up its WAD204 banner.  Modelling by Liz Holmes and photograph by George Day*

 *![Bird Island winter 2024 team](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Bird_Island_winter_2024_team.jpg)  
The Bird Island Overwintering Team on the research station’s jetty.  From left: Liz Holmes, George Day,**Izzy Stubbs and Adam Owen*

 *![Wandering Albatrosses at sunset TAAF](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Wandering_Albatrosses_at_sunset_TAAF.jpg)  
Not to be outdone, the French sub-Antarctic islands have celebrated WAD2024 with six albatross photos rather than with a banner, photograph of Wandering Albatrosses from**Terres australes et antarctiques françaises ([TAAF](https://www.facebook.com/TAAFofficiel))*

 *![Royal Albatross Centre albicake](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2024/Royal_Albatross_Centre_albicake.jpg)  
Not on an oceanic island or a banner but just as good.  The Royal Albatross Centre, situated next to the mainland colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, has [once again](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3110693032324408&type=3) made a life-sized Northern Royal Albatross cake to mark World Albatross Day in 2024!*

 With thanks to George Day, Liz Holmes, Richard Phillips, Antje Steinfurth, Vanessa Stephen, Monique van Bers and Mellanie Wells.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 21 June 2024*