---
title: "Among Southern Giant Petrels and Wandering Albatrosses:  a short walk on Marion Island"
---

# Among Southern Giant Petrels and Wandering Albatrosses:  a short walk on Marion Island

Once more I am in the sub-Antarctic, back at South Africa's Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean.  Unlike earlier in the year, this time I am here for a week only, continuing with my research into the island group's human history. 

 A short walk yesterday to stretch my legs after the long ship journey enabled me to photograph two ACAP-listed species.  Southern Giant Petrels *Macronectes giganteus*, most likely all males, were busy with a Southern Elephant Seal *Mirounga leonina* carcass on Trypot Beach.  The trypot that gives the rocky beach its name is a historical reminder of the exploitation of seals that took place on the island up until 1930.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/S/southern_giant_petrel_marion_island_by_john_cooper.jpg "A Southern Giant Petrel feeds from an elephant seal carcass on Marion Island.  Photograph by John Cooper")

  Round the corner a Wandering Albatross *Diomedea exulans* mother and chick watched me as I paused to take their picture, keeping my distance so as not to disturb them unduly.  A second chick has its nest right next to a low mound that marks the grave of Joseph Daniels, who drowned off the island when a ship's boat overturned in heavy surf on 29 January 1948.  The grave is unmarked at the moment while a new cross is made.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/wandering_albatrosses_marion_island_by_john_cooper.jpg "A female Wandering Albatroxs rests near its large downy chick on Marion Island.  Photograph by John Cooper")

     

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/wandering_albatross_chick_daniels_grave_marion_island_by_john_cooper.jpg "A Wanderer chick beside the grave mound of Joseph Daniels, S.A. Agulhas behind.  Photograph by John Cooper")

 The Northern Giant Petrels *M. halli* have started to lay at Marion, but in accordance with the island's management plan I gave them good space, detouring around occupied nests and so did not take their photographs this time. 

 My visits to Marion Island are supported by the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University and the South African National Antarctic Programme, Department of Environmental Affairs. 

  *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 August 2010*