Great News, for the first time in 16 years we have had 100% hatching success. 17 fertile eggs have now given way to 17 gorgeous chicks!!
DOC rangers have worked long hours over the past two weeks checking the chicks several times a day to ensure they avoid fly strike and are adequately fed during the critical first 48 hours after cracking the shell.
- Royal Albatross Centre
- Dunedin, Taiaroa Head, New Zealand
- Just a 50min scenic drive along Dunedin's Otago Peninsula.....Home to the WORLDS ONLY mainland colony of Northern Royal Albatross! www.albatross.org.nz
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Two Mum Household
We're making headlines...
Two female birds are incubating an egg, which is due to hatch any day now! A surrogate Dad has been involved but other than that they are just like any other breeding pair in the Colony. This is actually the third female, female pair we have had in our 70 year history.
Two female birds are incubating an egg, which is due to hatch any day now! A surrogate Dad has been involved but other than that they are just like any other breeding pair in the Colony. This is actually the third female, female pair we have had in our 70 year history.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The new season has begun!
The first egg was laid on 31 October and we now have 21 albatross eggs in total this season. That means at least 42 doting parents flying in and out of Taiaroa Head regularly. All up however, 67 different birds have been seen so far.
Parent albatross are at the beginning of a very long incubation process - 79-80 days on average!! A parent needs to remain on the nest at all times, so albatross take turns incubating the egg. One bird will sit constantly on the nest, while the other is out at sea feeding. The bird at sea can be gone for several days before returning to the headland and changing over shifts with their partner.
Parent albatross are at the beginning of a very long incubation process - 79-80 days on average!! A parent needs to remain on the nest at all times, so albatross take turns incubating the egg. One bird will sit constantly on the nest, while the other is out at sea feeding. The bird at sea can be gone for several days before returning to the headland and changing over shifts with their partner.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Countdown
The countdown has begun, only 5 days until the observatory opens for tours. Book yours now at www.albatross.org.nz
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Welcome Home
New season birds are arrving, so far 49 birds have been seen. They will now be waiting for their mates to return and busy constructing nests for the season. Non-breeding birds will be busy struting their stuff and socialising in the hope to find a mate.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Banding
All the chicks have now been banded with their 'Chick Bands'.
A Chick Band is a blue plastic band, with an identification number, that is fitted to the chicks leg. This helps us to identify them when they return to breed after their mammoth 5-6 year voyage out at sea. Once they return this band is removed and they are fitted with a unique three colour band combination - this allows easy identification without the need to handle the birds.
Not long now and we will get our first fledging for the season - SO WATCH THIS SPACE!!
A Chick Band is a blue plastic band, with an identification number, that is fitted to the chicks leg. This helps us to identify them when they return to breed after their mammoth 5-6 year voyage out at sea. Once they return this band is removed and they are fitted with a unique three colour band combination - this allows easy identification without the need to handle the birds.
Not long now and we will get our first fledging for the season - SO WATCH THIS SPACE!!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Lets go to the Gym :)
The chicks are well into flight training at the moment - a great time to come and see these little (or rather large) guys working out. It's muscle building time!
Flight Training for the chicks consists of them basically flapping their wings in the wind - they don't actually fly as part of their flight training. So when they take off on their inaugural flight they will head straight out the sea for 5 years, never touching land until they return to find a mate. It's an amazing (and rather nervous) time as we wait for our first chick to fledge....
Flight Training for the chicks consists of them basically flapping their wings in the wind - they don't actually fly as part of their flight training. So when they take off on their inaugural flight they will head straight out the sea for 5 years, never touching land until they return to find a mate. It's an amazing (and rather nervous) time as we wait for our first chick to fledge....
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