Ernest the Albatross – Greetings, fellow explorer. I am the magnificent Wandering Albatross, master of the Southern Ocean’s winds. Some say my adventures remind them of the Boss, my namesake: Ernest Shackleton.

My wingspan is greater than any bird’s – up to 3.5m – and I fly for weeks, even months, without rest, covering thousands of miles over the open waves. I have bonded with my mate for life, and we raise a chick with care every two years.

We are a contradiction – a sign of both good and bad luck. Seeing me fly overhead could mean that the soul of a lost sailor was there to protect the crew and bring much needed wind for the ship’s sails, but I could also mean someone’s imminent death or a coming storm…

Yet, the world I love is changing – nets, lines and waste threaten my family. Still, I persist, the guardian of the winds.