The Northern Royal Albatrosses at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura are having a record breeding season

Female Northern Royal Albatross LYL (Lime-Yellow-Lime) stands over her newly laid egg in November 2025, with male partner behind, photograph by Department of Conservation Ranger Scott

Hatching statistics are in for the intensively managed colony of globally Endangered Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura on New Zealand’s South Island.

Of the 47 eggs laid in the current 2025/26 breeding season, a record 40 chicks have hatched giving a hatching success of 85.1%.  One chick died when two days old, with the remaining 39 currently transcending to the post-guard stage.

The 2025/26 Royal Cam chick at 46 days of age spreads it’s still stubby wings

Watch the pair WYL and BOK rearing their male chick, which hatched on 22 January, throughout the breeding season via the 24-hour Royal Cam.

Information from the New Zealand Department of Conservation Facebook page.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 17 March 2026