Why do the sailors think albatross follows ship?

The belief that an albatross follows a ship comes from the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In the poem, the albatross is a symbol of good fortune and is welcomed aboard the ship. However, the mariner shoots the albatross, and as a punishment, he and the rest of the crew are cursed with bad luck. The albatross is often seen as a protector and a guide for sailors, and it is believed that its presence brings good luck.