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[Lani]

Royal Albatross - TF chick's mom LGL has been gone a week. It's becoming concerning  . . Dad LGK has shown up every day with food so far. Rangers are keeping close eye on chick's weight and may help supplement chick's diet to ease dad's burden.

2/25
Little skycalls come in little packages. Top Flat chick's beautiful skycall yesterday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1761545374073045325

Royal Albatross ~ Super Dad LGK Returns To Feed TF Twice & Spends The Night! 💕 2.24.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXt1iPHz81I




Feb 24, 2024
LGK has been back every day since TF entered post guard stage on Feb 20th to make sure his chick is okay with being left alone now for periods of time and an overnight. And TF is doing a great job with this big change. LGK returns back late in the afternoon amidst the rain and bad weather at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura to take care of TF. LGK begins a long feeding and then rests for a while and begins a second feeding. LGK will take off for an hour and come back when it was getting dark and he spends the night ♥ This behavior is really heartwarming to watch as his instincts are telling him to keep checking on TF until LGL returns back. What dedication he displays...reminds me of another very special albie Dad who took his parenting role to heart  - OGK. ♥ OGK found his way home injured and bleeding and still insisted on feeding Atawhai Pippa even in great pain while he healed. Such great devotion we see from these albie parents! Hurry home LGL ♥ Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

 

[Lani]

The rangers posted Manaaki was left alone at 34 days, TF chick is only 29 days. But it is summer, the Albies need to be hydrated and need more food to be able to feed their chick.

5 Hours ago, Dad LGK returned! 
Great feed by Dad LGK for TF chick! A little attempted preen for 'the boss', then off again to go to sea for the next round. Champion LGK.

[/size]

[Lani]

Royal Albatross ~ LGK Gets To Meet TFT For 1st Time! 🐥 Shares Affectionate Preening w/ BOK 💕 2.25.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4w-uKxWgKQ

Feb 25, 2024
Dad LGK spent the night with TF and in the morning he gave two feedings. At the nest to the right TFT BOK flew in for another changeover with WYL. The coverage begins with LGK getting up and walking to the cam and giving us some great closeups! LGK is one handsome dude!! 💕 After several minutes of admiring himself for the camera, he heads over to TF who is not interested in another feeding at that time.

LGK walks over to BOK who is sitting on the nest and he reaches over and gives her some affectionate preening. He also does a playful nip at her feathers. They have a friendly neighborly interaction (no he is not disloyal to LGL by preening another female!) Albatross mate for life and very loyal and dedicated to their partner. Even when a partner dies, it can takes years before the bereaved albatross will start to find a new mate. LGK is just being neighborly 💕

BOK gets up and LGK gets to see TFT and touch it with his bill - sort of like the elephants that touch a new born ellie with their trunks! Very tender moment. Looks like both WYL and BOK will be good neighbors to LGK & LGL. ♥ LGK gets up and has a beautiful departure over the water! Hurry home LGL we miss you! Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk


Health check for TF chick on left and TFT nest on the right of screen.

[Lani]

MOM LGL has returned!!

TF Chick jumps up from sleep and sounds alert! Parent is coming! TFT parent calls out too!


Welcome Home Mom LGL! She returns to see her much bigger chick!


Lots of kisses, preening and feeding of chick  [/size]

[Lani]

LGL tries to brood a much bigger chick after 9 days away. 


Both mothers are sitting with their chicks. Hopefully LGL will stay the night... 


Mom LGL with TF chick laying under her with a look of pure contentment on both faces... mom and baby. 

[Lani]

Royal Albatross - 2/27 Weigh day with Colin
This is the first weighing for Top Flat chick without a parent in attendance. Colin is very steady with slow movements to reassure chick its okay.
At 35 days old TF chick weighed 2.2kg slightly down from last weeks 2.3kg.  LGL will feed chick later on.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1762420721077326250

It's Top Flat Track chick's turn with Mom BOK, and
guess what? At 27 days old TFT chick weighed the same as TF, 2.2kg up from 1.4kg last week.

Also WYL came in & LGK was in for a brief pitstop.
Sharyn's update will be shared later tomorrow. Cheers!

https://twitter.com/i/status/1762423879023440251

Track Flat (TF) Chick looks very content
[/size]

[Lani]

Royal Albatross - 2/29
Hi everyone Sharyn's latest update from Feb 27. It contains interesting info about the health checks recently done on the colony's chicks including TF chick and TFT chick.



Top Flat Track nest
BOK and WYL discuss post-guard timing? WYL: I'm not convinced. Sits on TFT again. BOK always checks on Top Flat chick too, either before leaving or returning from trip.

[Lani]

Royal Albatross

Kia ora koutou (hello everyone)
Top Flat chick is 42 days old and weighs 3.3 kg at 9.59am this morning. This is 500g lighter than today’s heaviest chick of 3.8 kg. Last week Top Flat chick’s weight was 2.2 kg so today has been a sizable increase. LGK and LGL were both in at around 8.20am this morning. One of them had also fed their chick at 4.30am when it was still too dark to see the bands.

Check out Top Flat chick’s weight compared to the averages for males and females of the same age and the past Royalcam chicks.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/track-the-chicks-weight/

Ranger Colin and weigh day for chicks!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1764982083884306507

Mom LGL came back to feed TF at 18:28-18:40 ♥


And here comes Dad LGK to reunite with his family! A graceful landing LOL! 


Beautiful family moments together! This was posted by Ranger Sharyn 10 hours ago. 

[Lani]

Royal Albatross
The results are in and both chicks are male.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1766077906424574384

TFT chick watches parents



Royal Albatross ~ TFT is In Post Guard Stage 💕 BOK Leaves Alone Overnight & Returns Next Day! 3.9.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XG0wceQ81A

Mar 9, 2024
It is now time for TFT chick to begin post guard stage - where both parents will be leaving their chick alone for short amounts of time and gradually lengthening the time away as they forage for food at sea. Mom BOK left her chick for a short time on March 8th and returned back. After she left, both chicks were tracking an incoming adult and it turns out to be our dear bereaved Dad LWK. He walks over to TF and says hello and touches his fluff. LWK is always the perfect gentleman albie....♥

BOK fed TFT and then she left again and did not return until the following day (March 9th)  TFT spent its first night alone on the nest at 37 days old ♥ TFT and TF are able to see one another and I am sure that gave them both a little comfort, but especially to TFT who was missing having a parent brooding him. TFT had a peaceful night and did great!

Mom BOK returns & walks over to TF chick first to say hello. It looks like she wanted to preen his fluff ♥ Then she went to her nest and she spend a lot of time preening and giving affection to TFT. No doubt BOK missed her chick and TFT missed Mom too. The wind was blowing BOK's feathers as she was trying to brood TFT. She is such a beauty! She was able to manage getting part of TFT underneath her - his little head is sticking out. BOK spent the night with her chick and she took off the nest day. WYL is currently on the nest coming in (March 10th). Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

[Lani]

Royal Albatross - 3/9
Last night Top Flat Track chick spent his first night alone with his neighbor TF chick close by. Well done TFT chick!

TFT-BOK came in at lunch time 12:57. She has just left,
and TF-LGK was in with a big "special" breakfast 10:30[/size]

[Lani]

Royal Albatross ~ TF & TFT Chicks Graduate To Larger Green Baskets! 💪 Two Armfuls Of Fluff 😂 3.12.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz-ockxDNTQ&t=6s

Mar 11, 2024
Early in the morning both TFT and TF will do yawns within minutes of one another! They are getting ready for the day and it is Tuesday so that means it is weight day for the chicks at the colony.Today both chicks graduated to a larger green basket!  It now will take two rangers to successfully take their weights! YAY!! 💚🎉 

They weighed TFT first - and this is no little chick anymore! Definitely will need to arms for both TF and TFT. 😣💚🎉  TFT did great and was returned to its nest. Ranger Colin approached TF very carefully. The whistling is to calm and distract the chick while the ranger are working to take their weight. TF tries to bite ranger Colin;s sleeve lol 🥰 So it begins! It is beneficial for the rangers to have long sleeve jackets while working with the chicks.

Boy oh boy did TF looks big this week when Colin but him in the basket! They cover the chicks eyes to keep them calm. The motion of going up in the air coupled with being in a basket could cause a chick to spill its stomach oil if unduly stressed so they go very slowly. 😣💚🎉
TF is then returned to his nest! Colin watches him to make sure he is okay and then they leave. TF then does a wing and body shake!! I can't wait to see how much these chicks weigh this week and will pin the totals to the top of the video! Thank you for watching! Lady Hawk


TF is 5.kg and TFT is 3.2kg! . TF is a big boy!!!! ♥♥ Heaviest chick in the colony this week!! Great job LGL and LGK!! And TFT is almost the same weight that TF was last week and doing well too!



TFT Dad WYL stops and gives a neighborly preening to TF chick

[Lani]

Toroa/albatross chick dies from swallowing plastic

https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/toroaalbatross-chick-dies-from-swallowing-plastic/


Toroa chick in Dunedin Wildlife Hospital prior to of plastic ingestion. Credit, Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.

The problem with plastics is huge and individual contributions may seem small, but they are meaningful. Also meaningful is when groups, such as families, schools, community groups, businesses etc work on plastic reduction.

If you want to take your plastic free action further, I recommend the Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab Plastics Impact and Action global online course.

https://www.civicecology.org/ https://www.civicecology.or...

[Lani]

Royal Albatross ~ Dad LGK Comes Back Twice! Feeds His Chick & Visits With TFT Chick! 💗 3.13.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbWWGdDBX2Y&t=1056s

Mar 13, 2024
Dad LGK has been coming in every other day to feed TF along with LGL! He arrives back to the nest and sits down and makes TF come towards him for the feeding! LGK feeds TF and when he is finished he sits down and gives a little preen to the top of TF's head ♥ LGK then departs but he comes back a few minutes later with a beautiful landing! But instead of heading back to his nest, he goes over to TFT's nest for a short & very polite little visit ♥ LGK is a gentleman albie Dad and TFT has nothing to be afraid of with him coming to visit (just like WYL does with TF).

LGK then makes his way back to TF and sits down to rest. He does not feed TF again, just stays for a few minutes and then he takes off as well.  LGK is a wonderful albie Dad and is making sure that TF keeps growing and hitting all those weight markers! Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

 

[Lani]

Royal Albatross ~ LGL & WYL Come Home To Feed Their Chicks! 💗 Sweet Neighborly Interactions 3.14.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Q92vrolPA

Mar 15, 2024
This was a very interesting interaction by WYL and LGL when they came in to feed their chicks! First WYL arrives and he feeds TFT and sits and rests a while- then gives a 2nd feeding! TFT gets a huge piece (looks like a tentacle) and swallows it. WYL then leaves his nest and comes over to TF's nest and does some Albie- chick-sitting 🙂 Uncle WYL is such a great albie pseudo parent to TF.

LGL arrives back and walks up to her nest and has some neighborly interactions and preening with WYL. LGL walks over to TFT nest and WYL comes over and they have another preening session.

Albatross commonly will preen one another to remove head lice. It does not mean that they are interested in a new mate. LGL then returns to TF and gives her chick a feeding.

LGL returns to WYL and TFT and they interact once another. Looks like LGL does nudge TFT with her bill gently - TFT wants Dad all to his self! WYL starts in on giving TFT a 3rd feeding and LGL will leave. WYL departs shortly after LGL. TFT's weight should get a big bump up from today's feedings!! And will TF be able to maintain his status as the heaviest chick in the colony again next week? ♥

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

WYL and LGL at TF's nest
LGL leads WYL to TFT's nest
LGL and WYL check if the camera saw them canoodling   

[Lani]

Royal Albatross - Ranger Sharyn posts

Kia ora koutou (hello everyone)

Top Flat chick is 56 days old and weighs 3.45 kg. This is a big drop from the massive 5 kg last week but is still up from the week prior which was 3.3kg. Top Flat chick was last fed by LGL on the 14th of March. LGK was last in on the 13th of March. A reweigh may be necessary later in the week if no further feeding is sighted here.

Top Flat Track chick is 48 days old and weighs 3.05 kg. This is down slightly from last week’s 3.2 kg but both parents have been in regularly here. Weighing at both nests was around 10.45am this morning. BOK arrived at Top Flat Track just over an hour later.

Both chicks are well into post-guard stage life now and have very thick down that keeps them warm and dry in stormy weather. Full tummies keep the chicks warm as well.

A technical note:

Our current webcam, supplied by Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 2019, the Axis P5635-E MkII PTZ, is being replaced by an Axis P5676-LE PTZ cam. This one has an inbuilt night light system so will be more streamlined that the first Axis model that became the Royalcam and is now in transit to Dunedin. We hope to have the new cam installed in a few weeks and the live stream will be off-line while the change is being made. It will be great to have the night viewing back now the days are getting shorter.

TF (Top Flat) chick on left - TFT (Top Flat Track) chick on right - both are in alert as weigh station rangers are coming.