ALBATROSSES AT TAIAROA HEADS

Southland Times, Issue 23675, 25 November 1938, Page 6

ALBATROSSES AT TAIAROA HEADS

CHICK RETURNS HOME FURTHER MEASURES FOR PROTECTION (Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, November 24. The royal albatross chick which was hatched and reared in the sanctuary at Taiaroa Heads last year has returned home. This information was given to members of the Otago Harbour Board tonight by the chairman, Mr W. Begg, and after a discussion it was decided to take further measures to protect the albatrosses now nesting there. Mr Begg said the fact that the albatross chick , had returned to the place where it was reared was a source of much gratification. He had been informed by the harbourmaster that before an egg was recently broken by two youths at the heads four pairt of birds were nesting there and three or four other pairs were hovering about, apparently looking for somewhere to nest. He noticed that a bus» company had recently been advertising excursions to the heads and he thought it should be informed that the area was a sanctuary. Recently an excursion had come to Dunedin from Invercargill and fully 200 persons had travelled to the heads to see the birds. Admission to the sanctuary could not be gained without a special permit from the Otago branch of the Royal Society or from the board’s officers. ' Mr D. F. H. Sharpe asked whether the members of the public were absolutely prohibited from going on the place. Mr Begg: That is so. We have authority to do that.