I read everything you posted on the new feature for tracking LGK and LGL. Bookmarked the map and checked it out. I am also relieved that LGL is on her way back. So awesome.
This nest is a treat to watch - it is so reassuring to know that the rangers do everything for the well-being of these birds.
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 20th, 2021, 9:16 pm
by Liz01
February 20
Hello everyone
11:02 LGL returned back home!
11:15 they swap
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 20th, 2021, 9:20 pm
by Liz01
11:20 Great lunch for the little big chick
Rita
For me, the transmitter tracking are a great relief. I feel better when I know my parents are fine.
February 21
Great feeding by LGL - Close up
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 21st, 2021, 9:59 pm
by Rita
Taiaroa Head Royal Albatross New Zealand:
Time Stamp: 22.02.2021, as of 7:35ish:
LGL is sort of uneasy, stands up, then walks away at 7:47 and chick is alone.
Some minutes later a Red is curious and interested in the chick.
Red leaves and chick is thoroughly working on the nest bowl to make the bed more comfy.
At 7:58 chick is satisfied with the result and is preening.
I'd say this would give a nice little video. Liiiiz
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 22nd, 2021, 7:03 am
by Liz01
February 22
Good Morning Rita and all
Rita thanks for reporting
7:48 LGL leaves her chick alone for the first time
8:33:32 Red was not nice to our little one.
That hurts! Little one was screaming
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 22nd, 2021, 7:05 am
by Liz01
10:19 Dad came back home
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 22nd, 2021, 7:05 am
by Liz01
That was an exciting time today with red. Now she enjoys the safety with LGK
11:11 am Feeding by Dad
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 22nd, 2021, 7:46 am
by Rita
Royal Albatross Couple - Tracking Map:
LGK is represented by the red lines. Blue is LGL. It seems to me as if the father LGK does want to be near the chick. He does not roam far:
(Tracking map made available by Google)
Just for comparison to get a feeling for distance on this map (the lime green line):
(Courtesy of Google)
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 23rd, 2021, 6:38 am
by Liz01
February 23
Good Morning Rita and all
Rita, thanks for the tracker cards!
I also saw that LGK's fishing ground is very close. I think everyone has their own experience of where to find enough squid
12:34 Red arrived - the chick wasn't alone
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 23rd, 2021, 4:40 pm
by Solo
Rita wrote: ↑February 22nd, 2021, 7:46 amRoyal Albatross Couple - Tracking Map: ... (Tracking map made available by Google) ...
Yesterday there was another feeding. At 5:30 p.m. I saw that LGK was ready to leave, but he decided differently and came back.
Info by Sharyn Broni DOC Ranger:
Today the chick is 30 days old, hard to believe but it has been a month since hatching and the chick has grown from a smallish 280g to 2.2kg a nearly 2kg growth rate.
Weighing occurred at 11.15am NZT if you want to scroll back to see it. It is now a 2 person task and a basket is required. There are two other nests with similar aged chicks nearby that were weighed first. The chick was very calm after the adventures of Monday.
The chick had been alone for a few hours as on Monday morning LGL left, the chick was busy making the nest comfortable, a juvenile, aged 6 years came to visit. Later LGK returned to brood and feed the chick.
This view, taken on Sunday from the neighbours nest shows LGL in the background standing over her chick.
During the many flash backs we have on Disqus recently I noted that GLG was considered to be a juvenile bully of post guard stage chicks. Her parenting skills have been great this season and she knows just how to look after her chick.
Juveniles are curious about the chicks. They haven't seen chicks during their period of long flight post fledging and there is a lot for them to learn. It appears that first time breeders have better success these days than they did when the colony only had a few breeding pairs.
Here is a brief summary of the guard stage period in case you missed it.
Red arrived first
I don't think our precious chick had a visit from Rot during this time. When the camera worked again, LGL was already with her chick. It looked like feeding had also taken place. It was only a short movement that made me think that. Anyway, I was very happy that LGL was at home when the party started
Now there is a good way to check when LGL came back in the tracker page. I'll do that later
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 24th, 2021, 7:55 pm
by Liz01
LGK today
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 25th, 2021, 7:16 am
by Liz01
February 25
Good Morning
Sharyn Broni (Ranger, DOC) Mod •
Featured by Department of Conservation
Northern Royals at Taiaroa Head Colony Update
The population at Taiaroa Head has its first successful chick fledging in 1938, this followed 20 years of human disturbance leading to complete breeding failure. By 1938 there was 6 pairs. By 1998 there was around 30 pairs and now we are between 60 and 65 pairs. You would think that they would be easy to count being such a large black and white bird but the reality is that half of the breeding population is taking a year off and we cannot guarantee that they will all be back, or the number of first time pairs that will nest next season.
The population is on a gradual increase over the decades due to the conservation management that occurs here. There are of course ups and downs each year with breeding success as with the case with all wildlife.
This season we have had a massively successful chick hatching of 36. Sadly 3 chicks have subsequently died and we have 33 healthy chicks in the colony. This is 5 more than the previous record set in 2019. We are confident that our procedures around incubator hatching and protecting for fly strike have 100% reduced the leading cause of mortality for hatching chicks. Our current success rate is 75%. Compared to the 48% from the non-managed populations on the Sisters and Forty-fours (small islands of the Chatham Island group) this is pleasing result.
For those of you who have been watching for a while it was the rate of down loss of Royalcam chick Amīria that helped to inform the results of this aerial census.
In case you missed it:
The Royalcam chick weighed 2.2kg on day 30 on the 23rd February. The chick has had a couple of post guard alone times but LGL is brooding at the time of posting.
The tracking map has updated. LGK is foraging in much the same location as previously.
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 25th, 2021, 7:17 am
by Liz01
9:55 great close up of wett sleepingPaddles
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 25th, 2021, 7:20 am
by Liz01
10:21 Morning check of Paddles by Teo
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 25th, 2021, 7:59 am
by Liz01
12:22 Neighbor GLG being a pest for a second before taking off after her shift was relieved.
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 26th, 2021, 7:02 am
by Liz01
February 26
Good Morning everyone!
Complicated relationships at the nest
LGL (Mom) had left the nest and came back after a few hours.
16:39 LGK came home too !! Happy reunion
17:08 - 17:18 LGL feeds her chick
When she was finally ready to leave the chick, she trampled the little ones head
17:59 she leaves the area
Re: Wildlife Cameras that are really good
Posted: February 26th, 2021, 7:04 am
by Liz01
18:02 The chick enlarged the nest with straw- LGK lies next to it.
18:13 LGL is back and left again
Another visitor is there and plucks down feathers from the little one. It's Red!
LGK reacts to Red! He clatters ! Amazing response because red is a feminine one! Now one more visitor is there
18:16 LGK tries to sit on its chick. That no longer fits under him. But it protects it well
18:20 the other visitor left!