Fort Bragg Library Mendocino County, California
ALBATROSS: LIFE ON THE WIND AND SEA
A Museum/Library Collaboration
March 3, 2021
MENDOCINO COUNTY CULTURAL SERVICES AGENCY PRESS RELEASE
Online Exhibition at Mendocino County Museum Soars into the World of the Mysterious Seabirds
Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea, is Mendocino County Museum’s online exhibition from March 14th to April 30th and reflects the latest discoveries about these seabirds. Through colorful block-printed artworks, sounds and videos of albatrosses, a virtual tour of albatrosses’ Midway Atoll home, and family-friendly activities, the virtual exhibit, Albatross: Life on the Wind and Sea, dispels myths and sheds light on the lives of these large seabirds, of which three species are found in the Northern Pacific. This exhibit will be paired with stories about sightings of albatrosses in Mendocino County. Museum collection highlights and virtual programs will inspire exploration and stewardship of the Mendocino coast.
Albatrosses spend 95% of their lives over the open ocean, using the wind to sail over the ocean for long periods of time. They only return to land to find and meet their life mates, lay their egg, and raise their young. When it’s time to nest, both parents share responsibilities for their egg. While one albatross incubates the egg for up to three weeks, the other travels hundreds or thousands of miles to find food in colder waters. When the traveling bird returns, the parents trade roles.