Royal Albatross - Weigh day update 8/2/2024Top 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! 💕💞 💕 9.3.24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6mxoVR921o&t=5sSep 3, 2024 #TAIAROA #royalcam #albatrossOne 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
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Topic: Northern Royal Albatross New Zealand South Island Cornell Labs (Read 68944 times)