2023–24 Royal Albatross Chicks Fledge Out To Sea

The 2023–24 Northern Royal Albatross Cam season has officially wrapped! This breeding season—which was the first to feature two chicks on cam—concluded when the 244-day-old chick from the Top Flat nest ventured down the slope of the headland and out to sea on September 23. This news came after New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers reported the neighboring chick from the Top Flat Track nest wandered out of frame and likely fledged on the morning of September 20 at 233 days old.

While we’re sad to see them go, we’re overjoyed that both chicks are now exploring the Pacific Ocean. The young albatrosses will likely start by foraging off the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island before taking the long 5,600 mile (9,000 km) journey to the food-rich continental shelf of western South America. They will spend the next 4–10 years at sea before returning to the breeding colony at Pukukera/Taiaroa Head to find a mate of their own.

A few of the chicks’ parents have already returned to find that their young have fledged. Now that this breeding season is over, the adults need some time to rest and recover. They will venture back out to sea and spend one year replenishing their reserves in preparation for their next breeding attempt (Royal Albatrosses breed once every two years).

The 2024–25 cam season is just around the corner, as a few of next year’s breeders have already returned to the colony. Breeding pairs will begin to establish their nest sites in October and prepare for egg-laying in November.

Thanks to our collaborators at the DOC and to everyone in the cam community for helping us share another successful season with these magnificent birds. Keep following the cam on Twitter/X @RoyAlbatrossCam for updates on the upcoming season.