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| Our 19 albatross chicks are sporting a rather interesting look at this
time of the year. They are losing their downy baby feathers in exchange
for a more "grown up" plumage which gives them a rather scruffy
appearance. Being 7 months old, they have done most of their growing and
are rather heavy (~10 kg). Some of them are even too heavy for flying
properly and will have to lose a little bit of weight before they can
fledge at the end of September! Parents are still feeding their
chicks and will continue until September. At this time of the
year, a chick is being fed 3-4 times a week. Sometimes however, parents
are lost and our DOC rangers have to help raising chicks because a
single albatross parent is not able to provide enough food for its
hungry offspring. This year, the rangers supplementary feed one chick
because its mother has not been seen since April. With 49 years of age
she is our oldest bird in the colony. Let's hope she will come back!
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Our local conservation hero, Lance Richdale, camped out at Taiaroa Head in 1937 to protect an albatross egg. It was the first egg to successfully hatch and fledge and the beginnings of the local breeding colony. Over time and significant conservation efforts, there are now over 150 Northern Royal Albatross living at Taiaroa Head. Wildlife guides will do a presentation in your classroom about this patient, determined and focussed man. This programme would work well in combination with a class trip to the Royal Albatross Centre.
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Although the transmitters placed on the back of two adolescent birds in January are no longer transmitting, the data they collected can be viewed on the web site. The Adolescent birds displayed homing behaviour as they travelled between the Otago Coast and Taiaroa Head before making the long migratory journey to the coast of South America. They will be thinking about heading back to Taiaroa head in the next month to continue their search for the perfect mate.
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| Schools that have not been to the Royal Albatross Centre recently are eligible to apply to the Otago Peninsula Trust for funds to help with the cost of a bus. There are limited funds available so get your requests in early. You will need to write a letter to Robyn McDonald, General Manager, Otago Peninsula Trust, P.O. Box 492, Dunedin 9054, outlining why you need financial support along with three written quotes. |
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| The weight of the Quarry track Chick from hatching to fledging is outlined below. Have your students graph the data and think about why the weight changes and why it drops before fledging. Plan a trip to the Albatross Centre in the next month and you are likely to see the chicks exercising their wings before leaving in September. |
| Month 2008 |
Jan |
Feb |
Feb |
Mar |
Mar |
Apr |
Apr |
May |
May |
Jun |
Jun |
Jul |
Jul |
Jul |
Aug |
Aug |
Sept |
Age of chick
(weeks) |
0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
31 |
Upper Quarry
Chick wt (g) |
0.30 |
0.68 |
1.80 |
3.10 |
4.20 |
4.40 |
6.10 |
7.20 |
7.20 |
7.20 |
8.20 |
8.70 |
9.70 |
8.10 |
8.30 |
7.20 |
8.50 |
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The observatory is closed from September 17th to November 24th, but don’t worry viewing is still possible from the Observation Post in Fort Taiaroa and from the Cliff Viewing Area. This is a fantastic time to visit as the adults are returning to renew their pair bond with their mate and the juveniles have come to ‘party’ and find a mate. Lots of activity in the air with dual flights...
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In early August one of our chicks had broken its leg and had to be sent to Massey University's Wildlife Ward for an operation. The operation was a success and since then, the chick has been returned to Taiaroa Head. During its absence, the parents were seen flying around looking for it but have now left. Therefore, the rangers will take on the role as parents and feed it until it is ready to leave in late September.
News Article #1 | News Article #2
Photo courtesy of Massey University. |
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