My favorite Lifer from our trip, and one of the most majestic Birds I have ever seen. Oddly, the proper pronunciation is “Lay-Ay-San” rather than “Lay-san”.
Let’s begin with my only flight shot...not so great. Kilauea NWR. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 200, Evaluative metering.
A mated pair were seen daily near our resort. It soon became apparent why they were lingering in what appeared to be a soccer field. Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
A BABY!!! Oh-so-cute, and oh so exposed! The little guy spent his days in a dirt circle in the soccer field. His parents would leave him, sometimes all day long, while they went fishing to feed him. Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
The pair-bonding rituals were very easy to observe. In addition to displays like this, we saw numerous head bobs, bill snaps and clicks, and lots and lots of nuzzling and grooming. Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
A development ate up at least half of where the Albatross formerly nested in Princeville. Now, Birds have adapted to nesting right in people’s yards! No joke, we saw some guy put out a hockey net to help protect the young ‘Gooney Bird’ and keep the (dreaded) cats away. Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
I noticed one of the pair were banded This pic shows the USFWS band well. Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
Here is the pair together as we left them. Good Luck my friends... Simply an AMAZING Bird!!! Princeville. Kaua’i, HI. USA. March-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.