Bruno & La Güera: An Albatross Love Story

Isla Guadalupe off the Western coast of Mexico is famous for its massive colonies of petrels, shearwaters, and Laysan Albatrosses. Now, conservationists hope it can become a safe haven for Black-footed Albatrosses too – like Bruno and La Güera. In 2021, the pair were among a dozen Black-footed Albatross chicks flown from Hawai‘i’s Midway Atoll to Mexico by researchers with the non-profit Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas. It’s part of a larger effort to establish a new Black-footed Albatross colony in Mexico as rising seas threaten their native breeding grounds. The budding romance between Bruno and La Güera has the team hopeful that they’ll be just the first of many Black-footed Albatross couples helping their species settle into a new home in Mexico.

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BirdNote^®
Bruno & La Güera: An Albatross Love Story
Written by Lucina Melesio

This is BirdNote.

Isla Guadalupe off the Western coast of Mexico is famous for its massive colonies of petrels, shearwaters, and Laysan Albatrosses. Now, conservationists hope it will host Black-footed Albatrosses too — like Bruno.

[Ambient sounds of albatross colony]

In 2021, Bruno was one of a dozen Black-footed Albatross chicks flown from Hawai‘i’s Midway Atoll to Mexico. The move was part of a larger effort to establish a new Black-footed Albatross colony on Isla Guadalupe as rising seas threaten their native breeding grounds.

Because albatrosses navigate by the stars, the chicks were moved in dark and cozy crates before they ever saw the night sky above Hawai‘i.

[Albatross calls]

On Isla Guadalupe, a research team led by marine ecologist Julio Hernández fed the chicks by hand and placed decoys that looked like parents to help them learn to be birds.

Once Bruno and the other Black-footed Albatrossess were old enough to fledge, they soared out to sea with the native Laysan juveniles. When they started returning to the colony two years later, the Black-footed Alabatrosses were… a bit awkward. Some tried to woo a Laysan mate, but their courtship dances were incompatible.

[Albatross calls]

And though Bruno socialized happily with others of his species, he didn't feel the spark with any of the eligible ladies — until La Güera, Julio says.

Julio Hernández: Bruno’s leg band is number 4, and La Güera’s number 5.

She’d been his nest neighbor in Hawai‘i and his crate-mate on the flight to Mexico. Turns out, Bruno had been holding out for the girl next door!

Julio Hernández: It’s a beautiful love story. I’d bet anything they’ll be the first pair to form — and theirs will be the first egg we get from these translocated birds.

[Albatross calls]

For BirdNote, I’m Sheky Espejo.

###
Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Producer: Kizaya Studios
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin

Bird sounds in this episode were provided by Julio Hernández.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote January 2026
Narrator: Lucina Melesio

ID# BFAL-02-2026-01-06 BFAL-02

Reference:
https://pacificrimconservation.org/projects/guadalupe-island-seabird-restoration/
https://www.islas.org.mx/directorio?ver=29#gsc.tab=0