Royal Albatross Centre celebrates its millionth guided tour visitor

02 Jun 2011

One millionth guided tour visitorssAfter nearly 40 years in operation, the Royal Albatross Centre has welcomed its millionth visitor on a guided tour at Taiaroa Head. Mrs & Mrs Benepal from Timaru and their daughter who was visiting from India, had the unique opportunity of being escorted into the Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve by DoC Ranger Lyndon Perriman to have their photo taken next to one of the albatross chicks.

It all began in 1918 when a Northern Royal albatross pair first landed on Taiaroa Head and laid an egg. Breeding was however unsuccessful there until Lance Richdale, one of New Zealand’s pioneer ornithologists, camped beside a nesting pair to help protect them in 1937 and saw the first chick fly in 1938.

By 1972 the albatross population had reached 44 birds and a small observatory was built on the headland to provide a secure viewing area. 240 visitors went on tour that first year. Interest quickly grew and a larger observatory was built in 1985. The Royal Albatross Centre continued to grow and 28 years later, in January 2000 the 500,000th visitor went on tour.