Baby Albatross Returns

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27581, 26 December 1950, Page 4

Baby Albatross Returns

In November, 1920, which is 30 years; ago, a Royal albatross laid an egg at Taiaroa Head. In September, >938, nearly 18 years later, the first baby albatross reared locally flew from the breeding area. In November, 1950, 12 years later still another and important event occurred. One of the erstwhile baby albatrosses laid an egg in a nest only 20 yards distant from where she was hatched and reared. This year her father and step-mother also have a nest only 20 yards away from where she is incubating. Father and daughter spend, therefore, whilst incubating, some of their time looking

at each other. Whether they recognise each other is a question the human mind cannot answer. If the egg of this young female albatross hatches, on the same path will be at the same time grandfather, daughter and grandchild. The young female albatross under discussion is now almost nine years old. and this is the first time she has laid. Ever since she first returned to Taiaroa in 1947 as a six-year-old, I have been anxiously watching her movements. This is the first occasion on which an observer has found out anything regarding the length of time that is required for albatrosses to breed. In 1947 and in 1948 she was unmarried, but in 1949 I felt certain that she had married (space does not permit of detailed reasons here). This year she has the same mate as in 1949. and that mate's identity is of considerable interest, too. He also is almost nine years old, or in other words, he was reared at Taiaroa Head in the same season as was his wife. Moreover, his father, too, is also incubating an egg this year inside the

Written for the Daily Times by L. E. Richdale

sanctuary, but out of sight of his son. The father’s mate is his second mate, and therefore the step-mother of the young male albatross. Prior to the present season we had only five breeding pairs of albatrosses, of which nine were 25 years of. age or more. This fact presented a rather gloomy picture for it meant we had a population of old birds. With the advent of the young breeding pair noted above, and also of a second breeding pair which are probably fairly young birds, our total breeding pairs have advanced to seven. As five of these 14 birds are probably

relatively young, the permanent eX« istence of the colony is in a sounder position. I feel now that we have a better chance to establish the colony for all time. But I would like to. remind readers that in 30 years we have reared only one chick which has returned to breed; We must do better than that in the future if we wish to save the albatrosses for all time. This article is being written in Auckland while waiting for the plane to take my wife and myself to the United States. We are happy in the thought that the welfare of-the albatrosses is in good hands. -The people of Dunedin are fully alive to the magnificent asset they have in the albatrosses. Their decision to make possible the appointment of a field officer will bear fruit that few can forsee at the moment. In Wellington I had considerable discussion with officers of the wildlife branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. I can assure everybody that the department greatly appreciates the proposals of the people of Dunedin, and that the department is determined to do all possible to help.