Education News

Upcoming Events

School Programmes
The wildlife viewing at Taiaroa Head depends on the season and weather but there is always something to see. To book or find out more about the programmes call 03 478 0499 or email education@albatross.org.nz

Albatross Update
There are 22 Northern Royal Albatross chicks in the colony who currently weigh between 6kg and 11.5kg. They are losing their chick down and their black wing feathers are now visible, especially on windy days.

The parents of the chicks can be seen flying in to feed there chicks on most days, however a couple of chicks have required supplementary feeding. This includes fluids, vitamin supplements and salmon donated by King Salmon.

Trapping of mammalian predators is ongoing with 119 rats, 8 stoats, 4 cats and 12 possums caught since 1st October 2010.

Schools Conservation Award

Open for Nominations

This is the second year that the Toroa Award has been part of the DOC Conservation Awards. "This year's award will go to a student, class or school that is engaged in an environmental action project which supports conservation in their community, said Sally Carson, Award organiser for Otago Peninsula Trust. All schools and early childhood centres in Coastal Otago (that's Dunedin City, Clutha District, and Waitaki District south of Waitaki River and inland to Duntroon) are eligible. Nominations forms are available at homepage and are due by August 30. Last year's inaugural winner was the Healthy Harbour Watchers programme which involved 5 Dunedin Secondary Schools monitoring the water quality of Otago Harbour.

One Million Visitors

The Royal Albatross Colony began offering tours to the public in 1972, Nearly 40 years later, a millionth visitors have visited the facility. Present Royal Albatross Centre manager Mark Jurisich said it took from 1972 to January 2000 to reach 500,000 visitors, but it had only taken another 11 years to reach one million. "It reflects the greater interest in the natural wildlife environment." To celebrate the milestone, the Royal Albatross Centre had organised with the Department of Conservation (Doc) for the one millionth visitor to receive a free tour and a rare opportunity to go on to the colony with a guide and get a photograph with an albatross chick.The counter turned to one million when the Benepal family, of Timaru visited the centre. Following in royal footsteps, they became the first members of the public to see a royal albatross close up since Prince Charles, when he visited Taiaroa Head six years ago. 

Awsome Albatross... Poetry Workshop

Year 7 & 8 students are invited for a two-day writing workshop. The environment of Taiaroa Head and opportunity to interact with accomplished writers will inspire children to achieve at their highest level. Two students per school are eligible.

The programme will involve opportunity to observe and learn about the wildlife and Fort Taiaroa, guidance from published writers and the time and space to work with their own words. The programme will run in August.

Test Your Egg Knowledge

  A recent phone enquiry prompted staff to improve their egg knowledge. The caller had found a strange egg in his backyard while mowing the grass. "Could it be an albatross egg or maybe even a Moa egg?" Well, with the help of some very amused professionals came the answer...it was an ostrich egg! How it got into someone's back yard we still have no idea, but now we know how to distinguish the following eggs. It is interesting to note that Ostriches have the smallest egg relative to the size of the adult bird. Check out the photo to the right and see if you can identify the following eggs:

Albatross Egg - Chicken Egg - Ostrich Egg