Short-tailed Albatross Male Showing the Egg

Proud parent short-tailed albatross showing its egg. If the pair's effort is successful, this would mark the first confirmed hatching of a short-tailed albatross outside of Japan in modern history! Establishing a new nesting colony is one of several important steps needed for this rare bird's recovery due to the ever-present threat of volcanic activity at the short-tailed albatross' main nesting colony on Torishima Island, Japan. Image taken from USFWS Pacific Region Flickr page.