Royal Albatross Serves Up A Big Meal To Nestling

Open wide! A big meal is on the way for the Northern Royal Albatross Cam’s star chick. Watch the adult female (named BOK) pump her digestive tract as she prepares to deliver a large meal of regurgitated seafood—a nutrient-rich mix of fish, squid, and octopus—after returning to the nest earlier in the day on February 6.

Meals like these have helped the chick develop normally, giving rangers from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation no concerns about its growth. A recent weight check on February 18 showed the chick weighs 4.45 pounds (2.02 kilograms), which is a healthy weight for a male and heavier than average for a female at this stage.

So far, the parents have been making short foraging trips, with frequent changeovers at the nest. Once the chick reaches 4–6 weeks of age, it will be mature enough to spend time alone, and both parents will resume full-time foraging. During this post-guard stage, visits to the nest may become less frequent as the adults travel farther in search of food.

Find out what changes to watch for on the cam as the chick enters this next stage of development.