Taiaroa Head/Pukekura albatross colony
The Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, is the only mainland, albatross breeding colony in the southern hemisphere. The first Taiaroa Head-reared albatross chick fledged in 1938 and from those beginnings the well protected nature reserve now has an established colony of over 140 birds.
500th royal albatross chick
Toroa - the 500th royal albatross chick
Seventy years after legendary Otago naturalist, Lance Richdale, began observing and protecting northern royals at Taiaroa Head a major milestone was reached. On 26 January 2007 the 500th royal chick to hatch on the headland emerged from its shell. Mother, father and chick were all well and DOC Head Ranger, Lyndon Perriman, thrilled that this very special symbol of the only mainland albatross colony in the southern hemisphere had finally arrived.
At a special ceremony to celebrate this major milestone the then Minister of Conservation, the Hon Chris Carter announced that, unlike any others in the colony, this bird will have an official name, Toroa, Māori for albatross.
Toroa and parents
Toroa's lineage goes back to the beginnings of successful breeding at Taiaroa Head. The chick's father was Grandma's last hatching; she of the award-winning television documentary of the same name. Grandma was in the colony when Richdale started observing royal albatross in 1937 and was in her 60s when she died. The hope is that her grandchild, will be able to make a similar contribution to the species' survival.
Toroa was initially guarded by one of its parents, each swapping every two days to cruise the oceans gathering food. At around five weeks of age Toroa was left alone while both parents began a feeding pattern that was to last for nearly seven more months.
At eight months of age Toroa, by then thought to be a male, fledged and took off to spend four to five years at sea. He was carrying a satellite transmitter that tracked his his course to the Pacific's eastern corner, off the southern Chile coast. He stayed in that region, including a return trip around Cape Horn, until the transmitter ceased to function. After his years at sea Toroa will return to Taiaroa Head and become part of the breeding colony.
Other species at Tairaroa Head
A few of the 3,000-strong red-billed gull
colony on Taiaroa Head/Pukekura
Taiaroa Head is a breeding site for many other sea and shore birds. Currently 10,000 seabirds use the headland as a breeding site and though albatross have the largest profile, they make up just 1% of all the seabirds found there.
There are significant colonies of spotted and Stewart Island shags, blue penguins/kororā, the only mainland breeding site for sooty shearwater/tītī; along with royal spoonbill/kōtuku ngutapapa, gulls and waders. Fences excluding people and predator control are key factors that have enabled these important seabird colonies to thrive.
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