Black-footed Albatross

Back in August of 2007, two co-workers and I at Allen Marine in Sitka delivered a 65' bow-loading vessel from Sitka to King Salmon. The trip took us up the coast to Yakatat, across the gulf to Kodiak, up the Aleutian chain to False Pass, and then up the Bering Sea to Naknik . Out in the middle of the gulf we frequently came upon Black-footed Albatross. They live their life out in the middle of the sea, only coming to shore to nest. They have a 7 foot wingspan and fly so majestically only a couple of feet above the waves.

The following video is footage that I took of the Albatross out in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska.

I am amazed that the Black-footed Albatross, living in such a gray world, so solitary in the wide expanse of the ocean, can fly so gracefully with the air of loving life. He is a wise bird, loving that existence that he has been bequeathed.

Photo from Wikipedia.

A Black-footed Albatross in flight.

This is the vessel that we delivered. It was built for the National Park Service to haul fuel trucks to bear viewing resorts around Naknic Lake near King Salmon.