| |
|
|
Royal albatross colony hatches 500th chick
01 Mar 2007
A major milestone has been reached for the royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head, after the 500th chick hatched on 26 January 2007.
Located on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, this mainland albatross breeding colony is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
The landmark birth of 'Toroa' (Maori for albatross) comes 70 years after Otago conservationist Lance Richdale started protecting and observing northern royal albatross at Taiaroa Head.
Now a protected nature reserve, the colony has established itself with a population of around 140 birds. The first Taiaroa-reared albatross chick flew in 1938.
Albatrosses are the world's largest seabirds. They normally breed on remote islands and spend at least 85 percent of their lives at sea. The royal albatross has a wingspan of up to 3.3 metres and flies an estimated 190,000 kilometres a year.
Further information:
Department of Conservation
Phone +64 4 471 0726
Email enquiries@doc.govt.nz
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
