Toroa's Great Adventure

REPORTS ARCHIVE

These GPS locations are taken every 6 hours giving the birds' location to within 15m and are sent in via the satellite every 6th day for mapping and analysis.

Toroa has recorded a maximum speed of 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.

Next Update: Dec 8, 2008

No changes since Oct 20, 2008.

Update: Oct 20, 2008

All three albatross are currently no longer transmitting. We may never know the reason for this, but speculations include detachment of the transmitter (due to natural wear and tear or moulting of the feathers), malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality of the albatross. For some tracked animals it is possible to recover the transmitter or resight the animal, both of which would provide an insight into the reasons for no data, but unfortunately due to the remote nature of this species, this will not be possible.

Toroa - #55028 – We have not received a location from him since Sept 24, 2008. We obtained just over twelve months of worth of data from this albatross, which we are very happy with.

#55027 – We have not received a location from her since Aug 31, 2008. We obtained just over twelve months of worth of data from this albatross, which we are very happy with.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. We obtained just over twelve months of worth of data from this albatross, which we are very happy with.

Update: Oct 7, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – We have not received a location from him since Sept 24, 2008. This may be due to detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality. So far we have obtained just over twelve months of
location data from him.

#55027 – We have not received a location from her since Aug 31, 2008. This may be due to detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality. So far we have obtained just over twelve months of location data from her.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality. We obtained five and a half months worth of location data from this albatross before the locations stopped.

Update: Sept 25, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has begun another southward journey towards the bottom of Chile remaining close to the coast. He has travelled a total minimum distance of 1600 km in the last 12 days and has now been tracked for 13 months.

#55027– We have not received a location from her since Aug 31, 2008. This may be due to detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality. So far we have obtained just over twelve months of location data from her.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality. We obtained five and a half months worth of location data from this albatross before the locations stopped.

Update: Sept 25, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He is still within the same area on the coast of Chile that he has spent the last few months. He has travelled a total minimum distance of 650 km in the last two weeks.

#55027 – She has missed the last two data periods with the last noted location coming in on Aug 31, 2008. Her transmitter has shown some low voltage levels over the last few weeks, which may be the explanation for the missing locations. So far we have obtained just over twelve months of location data from her.

Update Sept 8, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has travelled a total minimum distance of 4400 km in the last 12 days. He made an excursion 2000 km out into the South Pacific Ocean, returning to the same area on the coast of Chile that he left from. He has now been tracked for a full year.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of 540 km over the last 12 days and is staying well north of Toroa. She is currently at 25 S, approximately 6 km off the coast. She has also now been tracked for a full year.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.

Update: Aug 14, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has travelled a total minimum distance of 315 km over the last 12 days. This is the smallest distance travelled by him over any 12 day period. He is staying within the area he has occupied for the last few months and currently isn’t showing any signs of moving.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of 1300 km over the last 12 days, visiting the most northerly point so far (23 S). She is very near the town of Antofagasta, Chile. She seems to have begun heading south again as she is currently at 26 S and is approximately 15 km off the coast of Chile.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.

Update: Aug 4, 2008

Toroa - #55028– He has spent the last couple of weeks between 46 and 48 S making a brief trip out to almost 300 km from the coast. He has been tracked for almost a year now, travelling a total minimum distance of 38,700 km since September last year.

#55027– She has spent the last couple of weeks between 33 and 35 S which is still well within her regular area. She has been tracked for almost a year now, travelling a total minimum distance of 32,700 km since October last year.

#55029– He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.
Note:The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: July 3, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – After a brief stint south and a minimum distance of 1900 km in the last 12 days, he has seems to be heading back up north again.

#55027 – Still within her regular area off the coast of Valparaiso, she has travelled a minimum distance of 542 km in the last 12 days and is currently approximately 25 km from the coast.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.
Note:The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: June 23, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He is staying within 47 – 50 S and has travelled a minimum distance of 1200 km in the last 12 days.

#55027 – She had a brief stint north up to 31 S before returning to her regular area. She has also travelled a total minimum distance of 1200 km over the last 12 days.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.
Note:The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: June 9, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has travelled a total minimum distance of 1300 km during the last 12 days, heading in a southward direction again. He is currently approximately 20 km from the coast of Chile.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of only 500 km over the last 12 days and is currently only approximately 6 km off the coast of Chile.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.

Note: The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: May 28, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has travelled northwards a total minimum distance of 1350 km over the last 12 days. He is currently approximately 30 km from the coast of Chile and has returned to an area he had been in for the month of April prior to his latest move southward at the beginning of May.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of 2200 km over the last 12 days spending 2 days out past the continental shelf. She is currently 20 km off the coast of Chile close to a small coastal town called San Antonio.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.

Note: The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: May 16, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Toroa has been located between the latitudes of 41 & 42 S since early April, which is an area approximately 160 km north west of Chaiten Volcano. This is one of the many volcanoes that run along the border of Chile as part of the ‘ring of fire’ which erupted on the morning of May 2, 2008. Toroa made an abrupt move away from the area on that same day, travelling a minimum distance of 1100 km directly south reaching a latitude of 50 S on May 11, 2008, before turning around and heading back up north to his current position of around 46 S. His total minimum distance travelled in the last 12 days was 1700 km. Whilst this is interesting movement, more scientific analysis would need to be performed before correlation can be assumed.

#55027 – She has been located between the latitudes of 29 and 38 S for almost seven months now.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This may be due to premature detachment of the transmitter, malfunctioning of the transmitter or mortality.

Note: The white locations indicate the last 12 days of movement.

Update: May 5, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Toroa has been tracked for nearly nine months now with approximately 87% of the total possible 6 hourly GPS locations coming in, indicating that the technology is working very well. The 13% of missed locations is mainly due to insufficient battery charge meaning that the GPS receiver doesn’t have enough power to calculate the location. So far he has travelled a minimum distance of 29,500 km since fledging on 22 September, 2007.

#55027 – She has also been tracked for nearly nine months now with approximately 83% of the total possible 6 hourly GPS locations coming in, also indicating that the transmitter and satellite systems are working effectively. The 17% of missed locations is mainly due to insufficient battery charge meaning that the GPS receiver doesn’t have enough power to calculate the location. So far he has travelled a minimum distance of 25,750 km since fledging on 4 October, 2007.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008, indicating a total tracking time of almost six months. Approximately 56% of the total possible 6 hourly GPS locations were taken with this transmitter, indicating that it has not worked as well as the other two. This transmitter showed lower voltage readings from early on, indicating that either the albatross spent more time sitting on the water with his wings covering the solar panels, or this transmitter was not as efficient as the other two. He travelled a total minimum distance of 23,500 km between 25 September, 2007 and February 10, 2008.

Update: Apr 22, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has moved a minimum distance of 920 km over the last 12 days staying in the same general area he has been in for the last month or so.

#55027 – She is currently approximately 140 km from the coast of Chile in an area where she has been for the last five months.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Update: Apr 10, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Over the last 12 days he has slowly continued moving back up north. He has moved a total minimum distance of almost 28,000 km since fledging in September, 2007.

#55027 – Over the last 12 days she has also slowly been moving in a northerly direction. She has moved a total minimum distance of almost 24,000 km since fledging in October, 2007.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Update: March 31, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He has moved a minimum distance of 1400 km since the last update twelve days ago and is the most north he has been since the middle of February, 08.

#55027 – She has moved a minimum distance of 1500 km in since the last update twelve days ago. She is still in the same general area that she has been in for the last month or so, moving up and down the coast between 32 S and 37 S and staying within a couple of hundred metres from the coast.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Latest Update: March 18, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He is still continuing back up north having travelled a minimum distance of 750 km since the last update 6 days ago.

#55027 – She is still within the same location as she was six days ago and is currently 60 km southwest of the town of Valparaiso, a known popular fishing town.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Update: March 11, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Toroa is continuing north back up the coast and is approximately 380 km further north than he was six days ago.

#55027 – She has stayed within the same location as she was six days ago. She is currently 80 km southwest of the town of Valparaiso, a known popular fishing town.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Latest Update: March 18, 2008
(Next update: March 31, 2008)

Toroa - #55028 – He is still continuing back up north having travelled a minimum distance of 750 km since the last update 6 days ago.

#55027 – She is still within the same location as she was six days ago and is currently 60 km southwest of the town of Valparaiso, a known popular fishing town.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008.

Update: March 5, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Toroa is still in the vicinity of Cape Horn, currently being approximately 320 km northwest of it and 55 km from the coast.

#55027 – In the last six days she has turned around and is heading back up north again. She is currently 70 km southwest of the town of Valparaiso and 45 km directly west of the coast.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This last successful download consisted of a number of failed location attempts along with indications of a voltage level not high enough to obtain GPS readings. It is hoped that once charging of the solar battery occurs, he will come back online as was the case last time he ceased contact. He has been offline once prior to this for a period of about 3 weeks back in October, 2007.

Update: February 28, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Since the last download on Feb 22, Toroa has backtracked slightly but is still in the vicinity of Cape Horn and is currently approximately 60 km from the coast.

#55027 – Since the last download on Feb 22, she has been heading south and has travelled a minimum distance of 920 km.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This last successful download consisted of a number of failed location attempts along with indications of a voltage level not high enough to obtain GPS readings. It is hoped that once charging of the solar battery occurs, he will come back online as was the case last time he ceased contact. He has been offline once prior to this for a period of about 3 weeks back in October, 2007.

Update: February 22, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – Toroa has travelled in a southward direction approximately 3200 km in the last 12 days. He has travelled around the bottom of South America past Cape Horn and is currently a few hundred kilometres south west of the Falkland Islands. It’s unknown at this stage what initiated this sudden southward movement or whether he will stay in his current position, head up the coast of Argentina to feed off the Patagonian coast, continue eastwards or return the way he came.

#55027 – She is currently located in the most northerly position that any of these three albatross have been located in so far (S 30.175). She has travelled approximately 1200 km in the last 12 days and a total minimum distance of 19,300 km since fledging in September, 2007.

#55029 – He has not sent in any locations since February 10, 2008. This last successful download consisted of a number of failed location attempts along with indications of a voltage level not high enough to obtain GPS readings. It is hoped that once charging of the solar battery occurs, he will come back online as was the case last time he ceased contact.

Update: February 12, 2008

All three albatross are still sending in data after nearly six months of tracking. Since fledging from the Taiaroa Head colony on the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand in late September 2007 and crossing the southern ocean, they have all been feeding off the coast of Chile for a few months now and aren’t showing much sign of moving.

General: The preliminary data has shown that all three albatross have spent the majority of their time within 20 – 100 km from the coast feeding over the continental shelf, only going outside this area on a few occasions to as far as 300 km and as close in as 1.2 km. The area off the coast of Chile is a known feeding ground for many species of albatross, petrels and other sea birds, mainly due to the presence of the Humboldt Current. This is a cold, low salinity ocean current that extends along the West Coast of South America from Northern Peru to the southern tip of Chile. It is considered to be the most productive marine ecosystem in the world with approximately 18 – 20% of the world’s fish catch present there.

Update: January 29, 2008

Toroa - #55028 – He is still located just off the coast of Chile and seems to have started heading consistently south over the last week, currently the most south he has been since arriving on the coast.

#55027 – Still located near the coast, she has spent much of her time north of Toroa and #55029 often within the heavily fished waters off the town of Valparaiso, Chile.

#55029 – He is also still off the coast of Chile slowly continuing south currently located at the most southerly position (Lat: 44.8S) recorded so far.

General: The preliminary data has shown that all three albatross have spent the majority of their time within 20 – 100 km from the coast feeding over the continental shelf, only going outside this area on a few occasions to as far as 300 km and as close in as 1.2 km. The area off the coast of Chile is a known feeding ground for many species of albatross, petrels and other sea birds, mainly due to the presence of the Humboldt Current. This is a cold, low salinity ocean current that extends along the West Coast of South America from Northern Peru to the southern tip of Chile. It is considered to be the most productive marine ecosystem in the world with approximately 18 – 20% of the world’s fish catch present there.

Update: January 18 2008

Until there is more movement, this page will update every 12 days.

Toroa - #55028 - He has travelled a total minimum distance of 16,770 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007, taking approximately 34 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 10,774 km to get to the coast of Chile. In the last 12 days he has travelled a total minimum distance of 864 km and is currently approximately 80 km from the coast.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of 16,290 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007, taking approximately 34 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 10,987 km to get to the coast of Chile. In the last 12 days she has travelled a total minimum distance of 670 km and was located at the most northerly position recorded from all the locations from all three albatross so far (Lat: 32.3S).

#55029 - He has travelled a total minimum distance of 13,835 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Sept 25, 2007, taking approximately 82 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 12,364 km to get to the coast of Chile. In the last 12 days he has travelled a total minimum distance of 526 km and was located at the most southerly position recorded from all the locations from all three albatross since arriving on the coast (Lat: 43.3S).

Update: January 9

Toroa - #55028 - He has travelled a total minimum distance of 15,906 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007, taking approximately 34 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 10,774 km to get to the coast of Chile. Since his arrival he has made small regular movements staying within 1.5 and 310 km off the coast.

#55027 – She has travelled a total minimum distance of 15,601 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007, taking approximately 34 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 10,987 km to get to the coast of Chile. Since her arrival she has made small regular movements staying within 10 and 190 km off the coast and is currently approximately 200 km north of Toroa.

#55029 - He has travelled a total minimum distance of 13,309 km since departing from Taiaroa Head on Sept 25, 2007, taking approximately 82 days to cross the southern ocean and travelling 12,364 km to get to the coast of Chile. Since his arrival he has made small regular movements staying within 1.5 and 210 km off the coast and is currently approximately 800 km south of Toroa.

Update: December 18

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa arrived at the coast of Chile around Oct 27 and is still in that area, currently 90 km off the coast and 300 km north of #55027. He has travelled a minimum distance of 475 km in the last 6 days and a total minimum distance of 13,500 km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She arrived at the coast of Chile around Nov 7 and is also still in that area, currently 40 km off the coast. She has travelled a minimum distance of 570 km in the last 6 days and a total minimum distance of 13,570 km since fledging.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – He reached the coast of Chile around Dec 14 and is currently sitting in the water 25 km from the coastline and about 750 km south of Toroa and 450 km south of #55027. He has travelled a minimum distance of 2100 km in the last 6 days and a total minimum distance of 12,400 km since fledging.

Update: December 12

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa arrived at the coast of Chile around Oct 27 and is still in that area, currently 75 km off the coast and within 40 km of #55027. He has travelled a minimum distance of 400 km in the last 6 days and a total minimum distance of 13,030 km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She arrived at the coast of Chile around Nov 7 and is also still in that area, currently 40 km off the coast. She has travelled a minimum distance of 480 km in the last 6 days and a total minimum distance of 13,000 km since fledging.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – He is well into his journey across to the Chilean coast. He has travelled a minimum distance of 2100 km in the last 6 days (4200 km since the last update 12 days ago) and a total minimum distance of 10,300 km since fledging. He is currently about 6800 km from the coast of New Zealand and only 2000 km from the coast of Chile.

Update: November 30

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled a minimum distance of 255 km in the last 6 days. He arrived at the coast of Chile around Oct 27 and is currently 50 km off the coast and within 30 km of
#55027. He has travelled a total minimum of 12,255 km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled a minimum distance of 360 km in the last 6 days, and a total minimum of 12,000 km since fledging. She arrived at the coast of Chile around Nov 7 and is currently 90 km off the coast and within 30 km of Toroa.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – He has started heading east across the Pacific Ocean and has travelled a minimum of 1350 km in the last 6 days (of which about 650 km was backtracked distance) and 6100 km total minimum distance since fledging. He is currently about 3000 km from the coast of New Zealand and 6300 km from the coast of Chile.

Update: November 26

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled a minimum distance of 500 km in the last 6 days. He is currently 70 km from the coast of Chile and only 35 km south of #55027. He has travelled a total minimum of 12,000 km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled a minimum distance of 340 km in the last 6 days, and a total minimum of 11,940 km since fledging. She reached the coast of Chile over two weeks ago and is currently 85 km off the coast and only 35 km north of Toroa.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – He has started heading east across the Pacific Ocean and has travelled a minimum of 1700 km in the last 6 days and 4750 km total minimum distance since fledging. He is currently about 2700 km from the coast of New Zealand and 6600 km from the coast of Chile.

Update: November 18

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled just over 300km in the last 6 days and has been in the same general area (20 – 70km) off the coast of Chile for almost three weeks now and is currently 40km off the coast. He has travelled a total of 11,500km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled just over 200km in the last 6 days, and a total of about 11,600km since fledging. She reached the coast of Chile about 10 days ago and is currently about 65km off the coast.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – He has started heading east across the Pacific Ocean and has travelled 1600km in the last 6 days and 3050km total since fledging. He is currently about 1500 km from the coast of New Zealand and seems to be following a very similar path to that which #55027 took when crossing the ocean.

Update: November 12

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled just over 200km in the last 6 days and has been in the same general area (20 – 70km) off the coast of Chile for two weeks now. He is currently 70km off the coast, near Novena Region De La Araucania, which is a coastal region of Chile. Toroa has travelled a total of 11,200km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has reached the coast of Chile and has travelled just over 1000km in last 6 days, and a total of 11,400km since fledging. She has passed over the area that Toroa is occupying and has continued north. She is currently 35km off the coast of Chile, near some small coastal towns.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – This albatross has begun sending in data again after receiving no data since Oct 18. He is currently 280km off the coast of New Zealand up by Gisborne, in the North Island. He has travelled 550km in the last 6 days and 1450km total since fledging. The distance from the last Oct 18 download and the first one to be received since then, on Nov 6, was about 315km, but because we got no data during this time, we don’t know the exact route he took, so have just drawn a straight line. Based on the transmitter information that has been received, it is believed that the lack of data over the 3 week period was from low battery power due to a lack of flying by the albatross. The transmitters are solar powered and when the albatross isn’t flying, the wings cover the solar panel and the transmitter can have difficulty charging. This problem was considered and anticipated, but the reduced weight from having solar panels rather than extra battery weight was preferred. The solar charging hasn’t been a problem for the other two albatross, and now that this one has started flying a bit more, should hopefully no longer be a problem, although it may prove to be an intermittent issue.

Update: November 6

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has only travelled 190km in the last 6 days and is spending his
time within approximately 20 – 70km from the coast of Chile. He has travelled a total of 11,000km total since fledging.

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled 3700km in last 6 days and a total of 10,400km since fledging. She is now only 450 – 500 km from the coast of Chile and approximately 7500km from the NZ coast. The total distance (as the crow flies) from Taiaroa Head to Chile is approximately 8000km.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – There has been no data sent in since Oct 18 (3 download periods). The reasons for this may be due to albatross mortality, transmitter malfunction or the transmitter falling off. We still hope that it will start up again but as time goes on it is getting less likely.
We may never know what has happened until the albatross returns (or not) to Taiaroa Head in approximately 5 years time.

Close up on the coast of South America to show where Toroa is

Update: October 31

#55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled 2000km in last 6 days and a total of 6700km since fledging. She is approximately 4700km
from the NZ coast and 4000km from the coast of Chile. The total distance (as the crow flies) from Taiaroa Head to Chile is approximately 8000km.

Toroa - #55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled 3000km in the last 6 days and has now reached the coast of Chile.
Based on the six hourly readings he is currently sitting 20 – 45km off the coast. Toroa has travelled a total of 10,800km total since fledging.

#55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – There has been no data sent in since Oct 18 (2 download periods).
The reasons for this may be due to lack of solar charge, transmitter malfunction, the transmitter falling off or mortality of the albatross.
We still hope that it will start up again but as time goes on it is getting less likely. We may never know what has happened until the
albatross returns (or not) to Taiaroa Head in approximately 5 years time.

Close up on South America to show where Toroa is on the coast

Update: October 25

55027 (departed Taiaroa Head on Oct 4, 2007) – She has travelled 3600km in last 6 days and a total of 4700km since fledging.

55028 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 23, 2007) – Toroa has travelled 4000km inthe last 6 days and a total of 7800km total since fledging. He is 6200km from
the NZ coast and now only 2600km from the coast of Chile. The total distance(as the crow flies) from Taiaroa Head to Chile is approximately 8000km.

55029 (departed Taiaroa Head on Sept 25. 2007) – There has been no data sent insince Oct 18 (the last download). There could be other reasons for this which
may not necessarily indicate mortality. These transmitters rely on solar chargefor their battery power which requires a certain amount of direct sunlight. If
this albatross has been sitting on the water with its wings folded for a length of time, then the transmitter would have been obscured by the bird’s wings from
the sun. We are hoping that readings will continue to come in once the bird resumes flying and the transmitter has had a chance to fully charge.

Update: October 19

#55028 (Toroa) – he has travelled approximately 3800km since leaving TaiaroaHead in late September with 2300km taking place since the last update 6 days
ago. Currently he is heading east and is 2500km off the coast of NZ.

#55027 – she has travelled approximately 1100km since leaving Taiaroa Head inearly October with 936km taking place in last 6 days. She is currently heading
north/east and is 450km off the coast of NZ.

#55029 – he has travelled approximately 570km since leaving Taiaroa Head in lateSeptember with only 172km taking place in the last 6 days. He still remains
fairly close to the NZ coastline being only 170km off the coast of the South Island.

Update: October 15

Toroa: He has travelled approximately 1500km since leaving Taiaroa Head in late September with about 800km of that distance taking place in the last 6 days.
He seems to have visited the Chatham Islands (where 99% of this species breed), spending approximately 3 days sitting in the water 20 – 80km off the coast.
He is heading west back towards the NZ coastline and is currently about 560km from the coast.

55029: He is still heading north up the coast and is currently about 95km off the coast of Christchurch. He has travelled 410km total since leaving Taiaroa Head in late September.

55027: She is still heading north up the coast and is currently 22km off the coast of Timaru. She has travelled 195km total so far since leaving Taiaroa Head about a week ago.

Update: October 8
Toroa - he is now approximately 550km off the coast of New Zealand and has travelled just over 700km in total.
#55027 - she departed early Oct and is now approximately 25km off the coast of New Zealand and has travelled 60km in total.
#55029 - he is now approximately 170km off the coast of New Zealand and has travelled 287km in total.

These GPS locations are taken every 6 hours giving the birds' location to within 15m and are sent in via the satellite every 6th day for mapping and analysis.

1 October 2007