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[Lani]

8/20 Royal Albatross Weigh day update

On average, the growth spurt phase is over, and the chicks will lose weight prior to fledging.

Top Flat chick is 210 days old and weighs 10.6 kg. Last week he weighed 8.8kg but only 7kg on Sunday when he was then supplementary fed, later LGK and LGL cam back to feed him. He is now above average weight for his age after several weeks of being on the light side.




Top Flat Track chick is 202 days old and weighs 9.6 kg. Last week he weighed 9 kg and has had several feeds since then. This is a below average weight but not of concern.

[Lani]

Royal Albatross ~ LGK Returns to Feed TF! 🐥 TFT Does A Skycall 🐥 ♫ 8.24.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHqOHCLnhGg

Aug 24, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
TF is a lucky chick! After getting a feeding earlier in the morning from LGL, now he sees Dad LGK arrive home! TF runs to meet Dad wheeing & begging for his squid special! LGK feeds his chick with some good mouthfuls ♥ When LGK is finished he heads to the left and walks just past TFT. He stops and quite unexpectedly - TFT does a skycall for him at 07:38 . That was sweet to see and hear! LGK then departs over the sea - TF is on his nest and TFT does some wing exercises.

The video does have some lags and skips in it - I tried to take out as many as I could. Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

TF 




TFT Skycall! 
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/722f731b49e7257541012aad3d93122cf9f370b9b1e5e8044cb357785c490d9c.png?w=800&h=493

[Lani]

b]Royal Albatross update from Ranger Sharyn Broni[/b]

Kia ora koutou (hello everyone)
Name the chick, what happens on land affects the sea. Thanks for all the great name submissions, it has been super to see all the conservation action happening out there.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/namethechick/

We are selecting 10 names from the submissions for you to vote on. Watch this space.

TF chick    Weigh day update: there is no weighing for Top Flat and Top Flat Track chicks this week.

Both chicks are doing very well, and the ranger time will go into the lighter weight chicks elsewhere in the colony.
Top Flat chick is 217 days old today. Last week he weighed 10.6kg which was a big jump up from recent low weights and some supplementary feeding. He has been fed frequently over the last week. Average weight is 10.9 kg and lowest acceptable weight is just under 9kg.



Top Flat Track chick is 209 days and last week he weighed 9.6 kg. Although this was a bit of a drop from the good steady weights that he had been maintaining he is still within the acceptable weight range. Average weight for a male this age is 11.1 kg with the lowest acceptable weight being just over 9 kg. He has been fed at least 5 times over the last week.

Note that we are not always able to keep the cam on Top Flat Track chick as he is often too far from Top Flat chick for the cam to be able to include both on screen. We will pan over to Top Flat Track chick at least daily and try to keep both chicks on cam when we can.

TFT chick on left - TF chick on right (standing) very handsome boys! Soon they will be leaving for their great adventure across the seas 

[Lani]

8/29  2 highlight videos to share with you:

LGK Escapes Up The Hill
https://youtube.com/watch?v=c8DPhmweuQI&t=1s

and A Neighborly Dispute
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E-fbvLNK2TQ

Here is Dad LGK's arrival for TF chick,  TFT chick & TF chick.
https://x.com/i/status/1828993655140679926


Beautiful closeup of preening of feathers

[Lani]

Royal Albatross

The ever-changing morning skyscapes over Taiaroa.

Good morning TF! Happy September 1st young man. When will you be leaving for your big adventure across the seas! 


TF chick has moved further down hill.

18 hours prior, LGK was feeding TF chick 
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/70c48321e78cf433cfcd13b9bdbbba03be6bca41fab2397a9bffb728f2eb7bde.jpg?w=800&h=869

Royal Albatross ~ TFT Takes Hops! Paddles In Air Over TF's Nest! LGL Arrives To Feed TF 🐥 8.31.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPBIqs-iKA4

Aug 31, 2024  #royalcam #albatross #TAIAROA
TFT wanders towards TF early in the morning! The winds are favorable and the chicks are both practicing their wing exercises. TF goes to the right and out of view - TFT then will take some hops and get both paddles off the ground! Whew!! TFT will hop over TF's nest in his practice session before heading back over to his nest area.

TF will hear and see LGL arrive so he heads over to her wheeing excitingly. For the next several minutes, TF and LGL are out of cam view but we hear TF's begging wheeing and know that he is getting fed. Then LGL walks in front of the cam. She stops and sniff at TF's nest picking up his scent. TF follows her wheeing. After a few minutes, TF returns to his nest. ♥ Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

TFT chick watching parent BOK coming in for a feed! 

[Lani]

Royal Albatross - Weigh day update 8/2/2024

Top Flat chick is 224 days old and weighs 9.7 kg. Two weeks ago, he weighed 10.6 kg which was a big jump up from recent low weights and some supplementary feeding. He has been fed frequently over the last couple of weeks. Average weight is 9.7 kg for this age and lowest acceptable weight is 8.7 kg. Weight loss prior to fledging is normal.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/track-the-chicks-weight/

Top Flat Track chick is 216 days old and weighs 9.1 kg. Two weeks he weighed 9.6 kg. Although this was a bit of a drop from the good steady weights that he had been maintaining he is still within the acceptable weight range. Average weight for a male this age is just under 10 kg with the lowest acceptable weight being just over 9 kg. He has been fed regularly over the last two weeks.

Note that we are not always able to keep the cam on Top Flat Track chick as he is often too far from Top Flat chick for the cam to be able to include both on screen. We will pan over to Top Flat Track chick at least daily and try to keep both chicks on cam when we can.

Now that it is September, the older, more developed chicks and those that have had a lot of time in the air, or just encounter the ideal conditions at the right time are ready to fledge.

Royal Albatross ~ Royalcam Chick TF Has A Meet & Greet With a New Neighboring Chick! 💕💞 💕 9.3.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6mxoVR921o&t=5s

Sep 3, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
One of the neighboring albie chicks comes into view and paddles towards TF for the first time! He sees this neighbor chick and being true to form, he clacks and defends his nest and territory. The visitor clacks back for a short time but then they both reach an impasse and stand off. TF will walk away towards the left and the visitor will follow him. TF will clack at this neighbor and pull up some of the grass marking his territory. The visitor was very calm and simply curious with meeting TF.  After a few minutes, the visitor will proceed down the hill to its nest.

I am not sure which chick this it, but ranger Sharyn might weigh in on which nest it is from. Immediately below the hill we have Quarry Track and Upper Quarry Track and to the right South Plateau. Since LGK fed TF at South Plateau I am assuming that there is no nest and chick there this season. Manaaki was there last season! Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

TF Chick sitting on the hill - Dad WYL is on the left walking to feed TFT chick

[Lani]

Royal Albatross 9/6 - beautiful sunrise and TF chick 



Royalcam Chick TF Expels A Bolus In Anticipation Of Fledging! Ranger Picks It Up To Examine 😲 9.6.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUAU4ZysRv0

Prior to fledging a chick will regurgitate a bolus which is composed of hard indigestible material. It is mostly squid beaks but sometimes there are other  hard materials such as plastics found too. The toroa chicks regurgitate the bolus prior to fledging to lose some weight. TF is seen casting out a bolus this morning. DOC ranger Jim is there to walk over and search the grass for the bolus and to pick up the contents for examination. TF will watch Jim do his work and then when he is finished, TF will spread out his wings showing them off!

TF is getting ready to fledge at any time now. The chicks lose weight prior to fledging in order to get better lift for take off. On a breezy day, we tend to see the first chicks take flight. TF is almost ready to go! ♥ Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

[Lani]

Royal Albatross

Royal Albatross ~ TF's Sunset Hovering! 💕 🌇 TFT & TF Have A Long Visit! 9.7.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcJcWNgfvC8

Sep 7, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
TF continues to take advantage of the breezy conditions to practice his hovering skills at sunset. ♥ And TFT (left) will walk over close to TF's nest and the boys have a long visit with some chick chat! When TF decides that he had enough socializing, he clacks at TFT who then turns around and heads to the left back to his nest Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

TFT renovating the edge of TF's natal nest (I think). No objections from TF.


Here comes LGL to visit TF chick

[Lani]

Royal Albatross
Top Flat Track chick is 223 days old today. Last week he weighed 9.1 kg which, although below average, was still in the healthy weight range. Both parents have been in to feed him since the last weigh day.

Fledging
Fledging has started a few from further down the hill have left now. All the chicks are practising hovering and holding their wings out in the wind. Their weights drop prior to fledging and mobility increases.

Parents and chicks can recognize each other from at least 50m apart so it is not necessarily an issue if the chicks are not at their nests when the parents come in for those last few feeds. Once the chicks do fledge, a parent may wait near a nest for a while until they decide their chick is not showing up. The parents then head to the waters off South America to feed up for the next 12 months before arriving back to breed again.

Royal Albatross TF Chick Gives Huge Wings A Workout As Fledge Watch Approaches | DOC | Cornell Lab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XClhui66SM&t=1s
 
Albatross TFT Chick Pays A Visit To Royal Cam Under Pink New Zealand Skies | DOC | Cornell Lab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7JptUB5WUs

TF chick looking very splendid and grown up!

[Lani]

Dad is still coming in to feed his boy TF... as you can see TF is busy heading up the hill, lots of wingersizing going on from all the albie chicks!


TF is scurrying after Dad!!

[Lani]

Top Flat chick is 238 days old and weighs 10.4 kg. Average fledging age is 240 days. There was no weight for Top Flat chick last week. He was 9.7 kg the previous weigh day. The average weight for a 238-day old male toroa is 9.2 kg. He may have been fed out of view a couple of times in the last week.

Royal Albatross ~ Rangers Weigh The Chicks! TF Tells Ranger Colin "NO MORE BASKETS!" 9.17.24 video by Lady Hawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el6U1g6ArPg

1, 2, 3, TF chick jumps and hop glides downhill. Will he come back up? [Yes, he does].





Top Flat Track chick is 230 days old and weighs 9.5 kg. There was no weight for Top Flat Track chick last week. A bolus of squid beaks and one small fragment of hard plastic was found over the weekend where Top Flat Track chick had spent much time. At his last weigh 2 weeks ago, he was 9.1 kg. The average weight for a 230-day old male toroa is 9.5 kg. BOK fed her chick after weighing today.




This is a cute exchange, TF is trying to be the peace maker.... BOK goes to neighbor chick to make sure it's okay... TFT is not having a good day!! 
Royal Albatross ~ CHICK FIGHT AT TOP FLAT! TFT Defends His Territory After BOK Arrives Home! 9.16.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaNO6ZecUtI

Sep 15, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
Early in the morning, we see TFT at his nest and another neighbor chick over to the left . TF announces his presence by running & flapping into view! TF heads over to TFT who is sleeping and looks around. TFT wakes up & clacks at TF for disturbing him. TF doesn't feel much like socializing so he turns around & heads back to his nest.

An hour later, BOK arrives close to TF and he comes over to her. She gives him a quick little clack warning, then heads over to TFT to begin a feeding. The other neighbor chick sees BOK and he runs to her to try and get a feeding but TFT snaps at him and defends his territory and feeding with BOK. Chick fight at Top Flat! TFT is boss and he sends the message to the other chick to scram and it does go beneath the hill.

TFT gets a feeding from BOK and TF comes over and is a gentleman as he watches the feeding from a respectable distance. When BOK is finished, she heads over to the neighbor chick who is at the far left and begins to preen its head. TFT is frustrated for BOK ending the feeding and to see all these other chicks around so he starts in with TF & clacks at him. TF turns and goes back to his nest. Then TFT goes over to BOK and the other chick and he has another chick fight with it - sending the neighbor away from his territory. TFT is the boss! Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

[Lani]

Royal Albatross update - Ranger Sharyn Broni posts 15 hours ago, Top Flat Track chick has fledged.
In the below video from Lady Hawk you can see the last sighting of TFT chick before he fledges.

Royal Albatross ~ LGL Comes Back To Feed TF! Drops A Big Piece Of Food On The Ground! 😲 9.19.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzsjGbJ1LXM&t=12s

Sep 19, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
Mom LGL flies in and lands in a bit of a flop close to TF. He is very excited to have a parent come in and immediately runs to her wheeing for his breakfast. LGL begins to feed TF and she regurgitates a large piece of food - TF is unable to swallow it and it falls to the ground. TF didn't try to pick it up he just kept begging from LGL.

LGL sees the food on the ground and she grabs it with her bill and swallows it in one huge gulp! TF continues his begging LGL for several minutes and LGL continues to try and feed him. I am not sure if she was able to regurgitate that piece of food back up for him. I am sure LGL needs the nourishment too. ♥ When LGL is finished, she walks down the hill and TF whees at her because he can still see her.  Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

TF chick keeps trying those wings, he spent the night further away from the cam. It'll be soon 

[Lani]

Royal Albatross Dad WYL


 ~ Dad WYL Comes Back 4 Times Looking & Waiting For His Chick But TFT Has Fledged 9.20.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivtmVsbvVHA

Sep 20, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
This is coverage from Sept 19th & 20th with WYL making 4 stops at the nest in search for his chick TFT so he could feed him. TFT was not here and had fledged! But TF was nearby and went to WYL in hopes he could get a feeding,

Notice how different WYL reacted to TF in this video versus all the other times that TF approached him.  Here you can clearly see that WYL is feeling some bewilderment as to where his chick is. He landed and looked around, then flew off and searched the headland for TFT then returned. He left again and then came back and he sat down and waited for TFT to come back to his nest. WYL is a first time Dad - these feelings are all new to him. So to not see his chick must have left WYL feeling confused.

TF's presence did not help as WYL clacks at TF and was not welcoming to him. While TF was growing up, if you remember, it was WYL who would sit next to him and visit, he never clacked at him, he was a gentle albie uncle to him. It was BOK who was  not so nice and would bite and chase TF away.

Today, WYL returned and had a long stay on the nest. He sniffs the grass for TFT's scent...taking all this information in so that his instincts will be able to tell him that his job is over and he can fly away and not return here for a couple of years. We have such beautiful zooming of Dad WYL ♥ TF was here just like he was yesterday- our TF is never one to miss a meal or a potential meal ♥ WYL clacks at TF and TF clacks back...the dynamic is changing.

I think WYL needed this time to process the fact that his chick was not here and will not be coming back. I do believe in their own way, they know that their job has been fulfilled as parents and they can now take the time to rest and replenish themselves since it has been a long process of raising a chick,  BOK has not been back yet so she does not know TFT had fledged. She may come back a few times as well before she takes off for South America.

Kudos to BOK and WYL on the great job they have done in raising TFT to be a strong & healthy chick! The albatross family is simply amazing, Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

[Lani]

9/20 Happy Voting!
~ Name the Chick Public Voting opened this morning,
https://doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/namethechick/

*Some fledge news - Top Flat Track chick has fledge.
Godspeed TFT chick!

~ Top Flat chick this morning, he is getting itchy feet and Sharyn's update below.
http://AllAboutBirds.org/Albatross

https://x.com/i/status/1836989152736465108

[Lani]

Royal Albatross update - TF chick further down the hill  ... not too many chicks left on the island. A new season of parents are about to descend on the empty nests.



You can see a little dark spot over to the right of this pic - TF chick sleeping last night



Royal Albatross ~ TF & TFT's Last Visit Before TFT Fledges! 💕 9.19.24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ar4qJ7zgQc

Sep 20, 2024  #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatross
This is the last cam view footage we have of TFT before he went down the hill and later fledged. TF is on his nest and TFT comes into view from the left practicing his hops & running with wings outstretched. TF clacks at TFT when he got too close lol One last clack for good measure! 💕😊

TFT takes a short rest and the chicks look at one another before TFT gets up and continues his running and hops down the track. TFT pauses a few times, taking in Top Flat and imprinting it so he can return here in about 5-8 years. Then TFT goes down the hill and we no longer see him.

TFT was a delight to watch from his hatch to his fledge. He was such a sweet chick, was well fed by BOK and WYL and had a great neighbor in TF to hang out with. Godspeed TFT - have a safe journey & may you always have a belly full of squid!! 💕😊 The video is dedicated to my good friend Silvana Souza who is one of our albatross's biggest fans and especially proud of first time parents BOK & WYL and their chick TFT! Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk