A huge milestone has been reached for the toroa/albatross colony on Otago Peninsula with the hatching of the 1000th chick.
Department of Conservation (DOC) staff have been working around the clock over the past couple of weeks with chicks breaking out of their eggs every day and have been keeping an eagle eye on the numbers.
DOC Biodiversity Ranger Sharyn Broni says she's been ticking off each chick and carefully monitoring the count.
"We've had chicks popping out, sometimes four at a time, so it's been super busy. We carefully manage each one, watching the first signs, the eggs cracking as the chicks start the process of hatching. We can hear them 'pipping' as they prepare to hatch so they do give us a bit of warning," she says.
DOC co-manages the albatross colony as part of Te Poari a Pukekura (the Pukekura Co-management Trust) bringing together the Korako Karetai Trust (representing hereditary landowner interests), Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou (representing tribal interests), the Department of Conservation, and the Dunedin City Council.
Chairman of Te Poari a Pukekura Bill Karaitiana says the trust has a strong ecological focus and its connection to traditional knowledge prioritises the mauri (life-force) of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. He says the toroa (albatross) population is a key indicator of ecosystem health through measuring and observing its mauri.
"Active breeding programs, habitat protection, controlled public access, and carefully balancing tourism with wildlife protection all make an impact, and contribute to the increase in the toroa population. Central to Te Poari a Pukekura's mission is protecting the mauri (life force) of the land and ocean environments, with species such as the toroa serving as indicators of the health of these environments.
"We now have another pair of eyes which will be flying over and surveying the ocean ecosystem, giving us valuable feedback. The challenge for Te Poari a Pukekura is to build the body of knowledge about the ocean, the land, and the flora and fauna. The toroa can help us better understand the mauri of its ecosystem. Through this collaborative approach, Te Poari a Pukekura demonstrates how effective conservation combines traditional knowledge with contemporary management practices, ensuring we understand ourselves better as well as understanding these precious taonga species for future generations," he says.
It's hoped in time, toroa numbers will grow to a point where kaitiaki of the species can be less intensive, but for now Sharyn Broni says it's a very hands-on operation.
"The chicks are carefully checked over and weighed. We spray them with a special type of insect repellent to protect them from fly strike and then as soon as possible they are returned to the nest. The adult toroa has been sitting on a dummy egg and we carefully put the chick back under them to ensure they have maximum protection," says Sharyn Broni.
Anyone who wants to learn more about the species can tune into the round-the-clock livestream Royal Cam, which follows one toroa pair as they raise a chick from egg to fledging. The livestream is a collaboration between DOC and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York, in the United States.
The chick from the live-streamed toroa pair hatched last Thursday, 22 January, and hundreds of viewers watched live, as it was carefully returned to its nest and parents. Sharyn says the weather last week wasn't ideal, so it was important to make sure the chick had protection from the wind and rain.
"People are genuinely intrigued by these special birds so they can watch this little chick on the live stream as it emerges from its nest and starts to venture out and about. This is a wonderful way you can connect with nature and get to know this incredible taonga species. We call it 'naturing from your couch' and it's really addictive!" she says.
DOC staff are super excited to reach the 1000th chick milestone after another record was broken at the colony last year. Last October, 38 chicks fledged or flew away from Pukekura/Taiaroa Head overtaking the previous record number of 33.
"Last season was a fantastic one for us with great weather and plenty of food available for the parents so we're hoping for another great season for these newly hatched toroa.
"Our success rate with the chicks has just been going up and up. Interestingly, when the colony first started with one breeding pair in 1938 through until 2007, 500 chicks hatched. It's only taken us under 20 years to double that number, so we are getting better at it. We are supported by such great scientists from around the world who are just as excited as we are," she says.
Cornell Lab Bird Cams Project Lead Ben Walters is one of those scientists and says the team is thrilled to be part of the milestone event.
"A thousand chicks hatched at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head is more than a number. It's a testament to decades of science-based conservation and care for one of the world's most extraordinary seabirds. The Cornell Lab is proud to collaborate with the New Zealand Department of Conservation to share the lives of northern royal albatross on camera and inspire a global awareness that supports future generations at this growing breeding colony."
Background information
Toroa/northern royal albatross are one of the largest seabirds in the world, with wingspans up to three metres. They are a vulnerable species that are affected by changes to habitat and climate, plastic pollution, and some fishing practices. They also reproduce slowly, with breeding starting from about eight years old and breeding pairs typically raising a chick once every two years.
The colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head is the only mainland site in the world where toroa/northern royal albatross breed.
A taonga species, toroa have a conservation status of 'Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable', with an estimated population of about 17,000 mature individuals.
The Royal Cam livestream is run in partnership with Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology in New York, helping the lives of these albatrosses reach an international audience. Now in its tenth year, it receives millions of views from people all around the globe annually.
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