Positive spirits?

The wandering albatross is a rare example of an animal that has benefited from warming. But even this gain will be temporary

Much has been said and written about the harms of global warming, but there are those for whom warming is positive.
There are plant and animal species that benefit from and enjoy the warming, one of them is the large and famous wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans).

The wandering albatross has one of the longest wingspans among birds, it needs a long wingspan as it spends a large part of its life (up to 40 years) floating above the sea in search of fish, squid and floating carcasses.

The wandering albatross fishes its food above the surface of the water and at shallow depths, a fishing method that in many cases causes
to a severe damage to its population since the sea-migrating albatross have learned to grab lures and waiting fish, which causes drowning and death. The fear for the survival of the migratory albatross population led to many studies and surveys and constant monitoring in attempts to find solutions that would prevent the harm,

It turns out that another human activity moderates the damage, according to researchers: global warming is beneficial to the wanderer, improving his chances of fishing and thus the survival chances of his population. Global warming is causing stronger winds in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, winds that help migrants fly faster, catch more food and raise more chicks.

So according to research which is published in the journal Science. The research focused on data collected on the island of "Crozit" for four decades (starting in 1966). Crozit Island is a nesting site for seabirds in general and a large population of migrants. Starting in 1989, satellite transmitters were attached to adult chicks before they left the nest. The transmitters made it possible to follow the movement of the birds and weigh their movement against weather data.

It turns out that the warming causes an increase in atmospheric pressure, which causes an increase in wind speed over a certain area in the western Indian Ocean, an area where the migratory albatross sows. Fast winds allow the migrant to cover more area in less time, which means investing less energy and fishing for more food. Tests revealed that the sea-migrating albatross expanded their habitats, added to their weight, stored more fat and raised more chicks.

The big change (for the better) was observed between the years 1990 and 2000, a change for the better since in the migrating albatross there is a clear correlation between the distance each individual covers and the availability of the amount of food.

The most positive indicator was the weight of the birds, a female wandering albatross weighs about 8 kg and the male about 10 kg. The tests showed an increase of 1 kg in the weight of the individuals tested, that is, an increase of about 10-12% in weight.

The researchers say that it is clear that the weight gain was the result of improved nutrition, but it is also possible that it is an adaptation to strong wind conditions, an increase in body mass allows flight in areas where the wind is stronger.

Positive? Perhaps, but the researchers warn that the continuation of global warming will cause them to change in the flow of winds, the forecast is that if the current trend continues, by 2080 the speed and strength of the winds will rise to a level that will prevent the migratory albatross from fishing in the area of ​​the island where there is a population and where the migratory albatross breed and raise their young .
The researchers' concern is that the sea-migrating albatross' flight speed will not increase (linearly) along with the wind speed, too fast winds will be "hostile" for flight and flight. Therefore, it is possible that the benefit to migrants will be short-lived.