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Colony Report: 15 May 2008 There are currently 11 Chicks in the colony, 2 in clear view of the observatory and another 2 that come and go as they please. At times as many as 4 are in view but regularly 3 can be seen from the observatory. The chicks are in the rapid growth stage and vary in weight from just over 6kgs to 7.5kgs. The first of the adult plumage is starting to show through their down, with small smudges of black here and there. One of the nests can be viewed on our site more>>
•Toroa, the 500th Chick, Turns One!
Seventy years after the legendary Otago naturalist Lance Richdale first began his work protecting and observing Northern Royal Albatross at Taiaroa Head, the 500th royal chick hatched on 26th January 2007. So Saturday 27 January 2008, marks Toroa's, Maori for Albatross, first birthday. For the first time in the Albatross Colony's history, we now know the exact location of three of the birds, including Toroa, since fledging from Taiaroa Head last September. Toroa is currently feeding off the coast of Chile and has generally stayed within 20 - 100 km of the coastline, so he is staying on the continental shelf. Toroa has so far travelled 17,012 kilometres over a period of 123 days with a maximum speed recorded at 109km/hr. The maximum altitude he has reached above sea level is 29 metres and a maximum total daily distance of 1020km, recorded during October when Toroa was crossing the southern ocean. This information is available thanks to the special satellite tracking initiative where Toroa and two other young birds were fitted with lightweight transmitters which track their position by satellite every six hours. more>>
• Summer Update November 2007
The staff at the Royal Albatross Centre have just had a sneak preview at the new breeding birds from the observatory. We are excited to report great views of nesting albatross and we witnessed some fantastic flying! November 24 marks the first day of our Unique Taiaroa and Royal Albatross tours for the season. Albatross Colony - we have 21 dedicated breeding pairs in the colony sitting on eggs. Very soon we expect non-breeding birds to arrive as they return from their 4-5 year period at sea. They entertain us with their antics which include flight displays and 'parties' on the ground. They are of course on the lookout for a breeding partner. The Royal Albatross Centre is open Monday-Sunday 8am-8pm.		A typical 'teenage party'
• New Satellite Tracking Initiative on three Royal Albatross

This tracking study is collaboration between Bindi Thomas, a Massey University PhD student, and the Department of Conservation (DOC). The three chicks along with the other 20 successfully reared this season fledged the Colony on Taiaroa Head in September. Those that survive five or more years soaring above the southern seas won't return to Taiaroa Head until 2011 at the earliest. Unlike many seabird species, Royal albatross have a fairly high rate of return of 70 per cent from any one breeding season, though there can be distinct seasonal variations. Department of Conservation Staff are confident that well over 15 of this year's chicks will return. Once the young birds have taken wing their current position in the Southern Hemisphere will be relayed via satellites to a computer. (check this out on our tracking page) This work will enable researchers to gain a greater understanding of the northern royal's range, and increased knowledge of these majestic seabirds. At the same time school students will be able to track the bird's movements on a wall map project developed by DOC to create awareness of these birds. more on general satellite tracking>>	DOC officers attaching the transmitters Photo credit: Bindi Thomas Photo credit: Bindi Thomas
• Taiaroa Head Guide Returns from Fascinating Albatross Experience on Midway Atoll

KATE'S REPORTS AND PHOTOS FROM THE ATOLL More>> Kate Hewson was one of only four people selected for an exclusive volunteer programme at the world's largest albatross colony on the remote Midway Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands, located between Japan and the United States. Kate, who works as a Tour Guide at the Royal Albatross Centre, was thrilled to hear that she was chosen from a field of worldwide applicants for the 12-week volunteer programme.

Kate joined the 70-odd humans and over 400,000 albatrosses on the atoll on the 18 of May, moving into an old army barrack built during the Cold War. Up to 7,000 people were stationed on the island during the Second World War and subsequent Cold War, resulting in the presence of a bowling alley, tennis court, gym, pub, movie theatre, library and the unfortunate introduction of the highly invasive plant Verbesina encelioides. This plant has spread wildly over the island and has reduced the area available for albatrosses to nest, so some of Kate's usual conservation work was to hand-pull these plants, clone native bunch grass plants in the greenhouse and then after a few weeks out plant them around the island. Over the three-month period the team of volunteers ended up planting an incredible 9,000 plants. Another harmful environmental impact on the island and the surrounding waters has been man-made rubbish such as plastic, glass, ropes and nets. Because Midway Atoll is on the convergence of two huge ocean currents, rubbish dumped by Japan, the United States and discarded fishing equipment, washes up on the beaches. Kate explains, "the plastic rubbish causes problems for albatrosses because they are surface feeders. The albatrosses ingest plastic at sea, then come back and feed it to their chicks." Kate found her experience on Midway Atoll to have been highly rewarding. "It's great being able to see results around the island of our work over the past 12 weeks. I feel very privileged to have spent three months on this amazing atoll and look forward to sharing my experiences back at Taiaroa Head as a wildlife guide." Kate will also travel to secondary schools around the area to share her experience on the Atoll and with the albatrosses. If you would like Kate to come to your school please call the Royal Albatross Centre on 478 0499 or email

Upgraded Richdale Observatory The celebration of the arrival of Toroa has coincided with the opening of the upgraded Richdale Observatory to provide visitors and school groups the best possible experience with minimum disturbance to the birds. Noise has been minimised with new insulation and new CCTV monitors installed. There are also three new displays: A tribute to Lance Richdale, The work of DOC rangers and Albatross folklore. Photo: Minister of Conservation, Chris Carter and the Environment Minister David Benson-Pope, officially open the upgraded Richdale Observatory, February 2007
• Don't Forget about our Great Cafe and Souvenir Shop!
Come and dine at the Royal Albatross Centre Cafe - open from 8.30am – 8.30pm in the summer and 9.30am - 4:30pm in the winter for morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The only cafe in the world where the Royal Albatross will join you! All food is freshly prepared on site and we are fully licensed. In addition, you can enjoy our excellent souvenir shop with a great array of local crafts and signature souvenirs.
• Become a Member of the Trust
The Otago Peninsula Trust, with the help of its members, has successfully been stimulating public interest in the care of the beauty, history and character of this unique region for over nearly four decades. If you share our passion for this wonderful peninsula become a member of our trust. Click here to download the Otago Peninsula Trust Member Application form