NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

ROYAL ALBATROSS

BREEDING ON MAINLAND

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

I An event unique in the history ofi bird-life in New Zealand, the nesting of the royal albatross on the mainland, is reported from Otago Peninsula. According to the observations of the signalmen stationed at the Heads, four pairs early in the season had intentions of breeding on the peninsula, but two pairs were frightened away by inconsiderate visitors. The remaining two pairs, however, actually built nests and a single egg, the usual clutch, was laid in each case. Vandals appear to have caused one of the nests to be deserted, as there was evidence that it had been the target of stonethrowing and the egg was broken. The remaining nest and egg are still intact and every effort is being made to see that this pair of birds is not disturbed. Apart from other considerations, it should be general knowledge that the royal albatross is a strictly protected species; and anyone found destroying the bird, its nest, or its egg is liable on conviction to a substantial penalty. The only effective way of protecting the birds appears to be that adopted in other countries—the appointment of official guardians to watch the birds constantly. A MAJESTIC BIRD. The royal albatross, together with the closely-related wandering albatross, is the most majestic member of its family and- the largest known seabird. It has a wide range in the South Pacific Ocean, from Australia to South America, and 'is fairly numerous around the New Zealand coast. Previously, it had been known to breed in the New Zealand area only on remote islands, notably on a rocky group east of the Chathams, in the Auckland 13----land group, and on Campbell Island. In the American region it is believed to breed in the interior of Tierra del Fuego. There is little difference in general appearance between the wandering albatross, which occasionally visits Wellington Harbour, and the royal albatross. The latter bird has no black markings on the back and sides, has the tail practically pure white, and the plumage generally more white; whereas the wandering albatross usually has the tail mottled with black and the back and sides freckled with narrow zig-zag linen. There is a marked difference in the bill of the two species, but this is only discernible when the birds are seen close at hand. The nestling of the royal albatross is clothed in pure white down, while that of the wandering albatros3 has pale-grey down. BREEDING HAUNTS. An excellent summary of the breeding habits of the royal albatross is given by Dr. W. R. B. Oliver in his admirable volume "New Zealand Birds." "The breeding places of the royal albatross," he states, "are the exposed upper slopes of Adams Island and Campbell Island among the s tussock grass formation that exists there. On Campbell Island the nests are scattered over a wide area. Their numbers have been much diminished in recent years owing to the island being used to run sheep. The nests are large volcano-shaped structures made of peaty earth and grass and with the hollow at the top lined with grass. Evidently the bird continually adds to the nest by raking up with its beak the surface soil within reach, as there is always a bare circle round the nest. Surrounding this circle is a dark green ring of vegetation. The nests are about three feet in diameter at the base and ahgut half this distance across the rim at the top. The height is about a foot or more. The royal albatross begins to lay late in November and fresh eggs are generally plentiful early in December. Evidently the laying season extends over a period of about a month or else some season are later than others, for Reischek on January 31, 1888, noted that eggs were-nearly hatched, while Archey records that in 1923 the first chicks were hatched on March 3. The parents share the work of incubation and feeding the young, which must be closely guarded until it is at least four months old, for if either egg or nestling were exposed for an instant it would be destroyed by skuas. After a while the young is deserted by the parents and it must then undergo a period of fasting until it i» able to fly. Usually it remains on the nest until the parents return the following year to lay." ITS ISLAND HOME. Dr. Oliver continues: "On land this bird walks in exactly the same manner as its relative, the head being stretched forward in a horizontal position and the wings partly folded and held well up. On the day I landed in North East Inlet, Campbell Island," states Dr. Oliver, "it was, as is frequently the case in that latitude, blowing a furious gale. With two companions I climbed to the top of the Mount Lyall ridge, and in the open valley on the leeward side there was a certain amount of shelter. Here, scattered over the landscape, were seen the white forms of the royal albatross. Near the top of the ridge I watched at close quarters a bird rising to fly. First it deliberately walked' up the slope towards the ridge, nearing which it started to run; then, as it felt the force of the gale, opened its wings and at once rose against the wind and sailed off. No better example could be seen of the method of utilising the power of the wind for the gliding flight of a bird. It would be impossible for the bird to take flight from a flat surface or a calm. To rise it must have the lifting power of the wind, and in this instance it actually sailed off in the teeth of the gale, perhaps not so' remarkable a feat in view of the fact that, at the point it departed, namely, the crest of the ridge, there would be a strong upward current of air." BIRDS MAY RETURN. The great interest attaching to the breeding of the royal albatross oi» Otago Peninsula may readily be unden stood when previously its only knowrt haunts were on remote islands; and only the' more fortunate bird-lovers and members of scientific expeditions were able to seethe birds. Now that this albatross has attached itself to the locality mentioned, there is every possibility that it will return next season. It appears that if this region can be adequately protected against the visits of vandals, this albatross will establish itself there, and who knows that in time a fairly extensive breeding colony may exist there? The South Island could then claim an attraction comparable to the breeding place of the gannet at Cape Kidnappers.