Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head Expanding and Flourishing

Forest and Bird, Issue 184, 1 May 1972, Page 3

Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head Expanding and Flourishing

THE isolation of its Chatham, Campbell, and Auckland Islands breeding grounds has generally screened the royal albatross from the casual interest of the merely curious and the scrutiny of the scientist. From at least 1920 until the mid 1930 s attempts to colonise Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula, were frustrated by the thoughtless, curious, and often vandalistic behaviour of man.

By

C. J. R. Robertson,

Banding Officer, Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs

FROM 1937 to the present day there has been a continuing campaign to protect the colony and foster its growth. Probably no single person did more in the early period to organise protection, both by personal example and in encouraging others to assist, than Dr L. E. Richdale. Later his detailed study of the birds unravelled and publicised many of the mysteries of the life cycle of the royal albatross. “In 1937 the birds again laid; so I made up my mind to do all possible to prevent a repetition of previous losses. I literally lived alongside the nest and made a special point of being present all day Saturday and Sunday. That season I was present on the

breeding area on 120 days, which represents nearly 5,000 miles of travel by car. At this juncture the Otago Branch of the Royal Society was asked for assistance, which was readily forthcoming, and the first fence to protect the area was erected. On 22 September 1938 these protective efforts were rewarded when the first fledgeling royal albatross flew from Taiaroa Head.

“Unfortunately, unwanted publicity attracted more and more people, who demanded their rights as free men to enter. Under this new threat, I turned for assistance to the Otago Harbour Board. Further fences were erected and the Harbour Board. took over control of the area. Protective legislation was passed under the Animals Protection and Games Act in 1938 and the prospects for the future seemed bright.” (L. E. Richdale.) Effect of War However, the Second World War and the refortification of Taiaroa Head disorganised protection, and during the 1940 s there was a steady decline in breeding success. As a result of co-operation between the Department of Internal Affairs and the Otago Harbour Board and with a contribution of $2,500 raised by the Dunedin Rotary Clubs, a full-time ranger, Mr Stan Sharpe, was appointed in 1951. In 1949 Dr Richdale made the following comment: < “It would seem that by assuring the albatrosses strict privacy, thereby allowing the timid, strange birds unaccustomed to people to settle, and by making sure that all chicks hatched are reared, in time a fair-sized colony should be established. “The build-up is going to be very slow and may take as long as 15 years. Most people will agree that any action taken to ensure that the albatross colony is perpetuated for all time is worth any sacrifice on the part of individuals now. Those in charge of the affairs of the albatrosses have decided that in the meantime the birds are to be visited only for official reasons. In view of the need for these restrictions it is hoped the public will exercise the long-term patience necessary for the build-up of a flourishing colony.” Gazetted as Reserve Since then the colony has prospered and unnatural losses have slowly been eliminated. In 1964 the area was gazetted as a flora and fauna reserve, with control vested in the Minister of Internal Affairs. In 1968 Mr Sharpe retired after 17 years of protecting the birds, during which period he did much to consolidate the earlier hopes

of Dr Richdale. His replacement, Mr A. Wright, has witnessed probably the most striking changes in the history of the colony. Though the number of breeding birds is still not large (5 to 10 pairs per year), many young birds, both strangers and progeny of the colony, are appearing each year. During the two seasons between 1970 and 1972 some 45 individuals were seen in the colony as breeding or juvenile birds. Of these 35 were birds born at Taiaroa Head. This happy state

of affairs reflects the success of the continued protection shown in the following table:

Exceptional Survival Rate

As juvenile royal albatrosses do not return until they are more than 4 years old, the present average survival rate to 5 years old is more than 60 percent, with over 72 percent surviving from birds bred between 1960 and 1967. This exceptional survival rate has given us a very good opportunity to study the habits of juvenile birds. We have found that though capable of laying eggs at 8 or 9 years old, the birds do not generally produce fertile eggs until they are 9 or 10 years old. Thus we have found that at present with a high proportion of young breeding birds the production of chicks has temporarily dropped. This is not as discouraging as it may seem, for as well as the progeny of the colony more than 10 juvenile outsiders have been attracted to the colony in the past 3 years. This large

population meant that Dr Richdale’s prediction of 1949 had at last been fulfilled. Public Viewing After extensive negotiations since 1968 between the Otago Peninsula Trust, the Otago Harbour Board, and the Departments of Internal Affairs and Lands it was agreed in 1971 that limited public viewing from an observatory within the colony should be allowed. With the help of a donation of $2,700 from the combined Rotary Clubs of Dunedin and Mosgiel the Peninsula Trust was

able to construct an observatory, using the remains of a gun emplacement built in 1904 as a foundation. The Harbour Board has made available a house for a reception and display centre where visitors assemble for a short lecture before ascending to the observation area. (Bookings may be made through the Government Tourist Bureau.) The Periodic Detention Centre and the Dunedin South Rotoact Club carried out extensive fencing, track making, and redecoration of the reception centre.

The opening of the public observatory by the Minister of Internal Affairs on 23 February 1972, attended by Dr and Mrs Richdale and

representatives of those organisations connected with the colony since 1937, was a major step in the history of conservation in this part of New Zealand. Any proceeds remaining after the payment of running expenses are to be devoted to future conservation and protection of wildlife on the Otago Peninsula. Because of the increasing number of birds the present reserve is to be expanded to overcome possible overcrowding. Thanks to the continued support of the Otago Harbour Board, a further area of flat ground, of which the present sanctuary has very little, will be added during 1972, which will thus ensure the continuing development of the colony.

Whau Seedlings Raised in Christchurch from Lost Seed

WHILE on holiday at Pohara 3 years ago I was very interested to find a plant I had not seen before, though I knew that in Nelson there is an overlap of North Island plants.

Growing on a bank was a small tree with seed pods covered in prickles, not unlike a chestnut seed. Reference to Cockayne identified it as Entelea arborescens (whau).

The book stated that the genus is confined to these islands, this being the only species, and that the wood is remarkably light and was used by the Maoris as floats for their fishing nets.

As the plant was described as easily cultivated from seed, I took a branchlet with seed pods home to Christchurch, determined to try to grow it under cover and then probably shift the seedlings to sheltered positions in the gardens of some of my family living at Mount Pleasant and Cashmere. Lost for a Year The seeds when dry were shaken out into an envelope which was then unfortunately mislaid and it was a year before I found it again. I was doubtful if the seeds could germinate after such a long period, but I

planted them in a seed box and eventually green shoots appeared.

As I did not know whether these were weeds or whau shoots, I arranged for a friend to keep them in her glasshouse to await developments. She later reported that the shoots had developed serrated leaves and were thriving.

Twelve plants grew, and because of their rapid growth she had to put them in individual pots. The leaves, a lovely green, are now 5 in. long, and the plants look sturdy and healthy.

We are now hardening them off by putting them outside for a period each day and soon they should be ready for their permanent positions on the hills. Small Triumph I think that it will be a small triumph if these beautiful white-flowering trees can be established in favourable places. I know that this experience is not unique, for many plant lovers have sought to establish in their gardens those plants which are becoming rare and in danger of being lost, but that these seeds were viable for so long is a small wonder to me. —Constance Beardsley

Acknowledgment THE Society is indebted to the Wildlife Service of the Department of Internal Affairs for permission to print this article from the forthcoming issue of its "Wildlife 1971 — Review". The opening of the albatross colony to the public under proper, controlled conditions is a major step forward. The Society particularly commends the patient work of Dr L. E. Richdale and great assistance of the Otago Harbour Board and the Otago Peninsula Trust in bringing this about and in developing and protecting the colony.

1937-50 1951-60 1961-71 Eggs laid 55 53 77 Losses due to man or predators .. .. 27 22 7 Chicks flown ... 17 25 43 Chicks returned to 1 April 1972 9 15 19