2 August...the albatross is starting to spread it's wings to catch the breeze!
Term 3
23rd July
Still snuggled up on it's nest. Takes a few walks now and often wanders away from the view of the camera
23rd July
Still snuggled up on it's nest. Takes a few walks now and often wanders away from the view of the camera
End of term one...gosh, hasn't the albatross grown!
19 March- patiently waiting for the adults to return with food!
16 March- testing out those wings!
Adult back to check on the chick and give it some seafood soup!
Friday 22nd..the chick is old enough to be left alone for short periods of time!
DID YOU KNOW..............
- The royal albatross measures up to 1.35metres long from bill to tail
- It has a giant wingspan of 3 metres or more.
- As an adult, it weighs 7-8 kilograms
- They spend 80% of their life time at sea
- The adults return every 2 years to the same breeding spot to breed in October
- Albatrosses usually mate for life ( keep the same partner)
- Together they share the responsibility of looking after the egg and chick for the 8-9 months it takes before the young albatross (called a fledging) is able to fly away
- After its first flight an albatross won't walk on land again for 3-5 years. It spends its time out at sea.
Over 2019, Room 3 will be watching the growth of the new chick which hatched on 24 January..it is so cute!!. The adult albatross take turns at looking after it at this early stage. The Royal albatross sanctuary is at Taiaroa Heads, just out from Dunedin.
Male: LGK (lime/green/black bands)
Age: 10 years
Hatched: 2009
Breeding: since 2017
Female: LGL (lime/green/lime bands)
Age: 11 years
Hatched: 2008
Breeding: since 2017
Offspring
Name: South Plateau hatchling
Hatched: 24 January 2019
Age: 10 years
Hatched: 2009
Breeding: since 2017
Female: LGL (lime/green/lime bands)
Age: 11 years
Hatched: 2008
Breeding: since 2017
Offspring
Name: South Plateau hatchling
Hatched: 24 January 2019
The 2018/19 Royal Cam is currently trained on the nest of LGK and LGL and their chick who hatched on 24 January 2019.
These two northern royal albatross have been together since 2017, this is their second breeding attempt. Last season their egg was an early dead embryo. Their current nest is at South Plateau which is higher up the hill than previous seasons and directly across from the observatory towards the Signal Station. The egg was laid on 6 November and was the ninth egg out of the 51 eggs to be laid this season.
These two northern royal albatross have been together since 2017, this is their second breeding attempt. Last season their egg was an early dead embryo. Their current nest is at South Plateau which is higher up the hill than previous seasons and directly across from the observatory towards the Signal Station. The egg was laid on 6 November and was the ninth egg out of the 51 eggs to be laid this season.