---
title: "The fifth and last hand-reared cohort of Chatham Albatrosses commences fledging from Point Gap"
---

# The fifth and last hand-reared cohort of Chatham Albatrosses commences fledging from Point Gap

This season’s hand-reared Chatham Albatrosses *Thalassarche eremita*, translocated as chicks from the [Pyramid](https://www.acap.aq/index.php/component/content/article/14-news/latest-news/1315-acap-breeding-sites-no-9-the-pyramid-chatham-islands-new-zealand?lang=en), sole breeding site for the species, have commenced fledging from the Point Gap translocation site on New Zealand’s Chatham Islands. During a windy period ([view video](https://www.facebook.com/chathamtaikotrust/videos/1608054595957229/)) this week, the first four fledglings have left for the coastal waters of Chile (where a hand-reared bird from a previous season has been identified by its colour band - [click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2652-a-translocated-and-hand-fed-chatham-albatross-gets-photographed-in-south-american-waters?highlight=WyJjaGF0aGFtIiwidHJhbnNsb2NhdGlvbiIsImNoYXRoYW0gdHJhbnNsb2NhdGlvbiJd)).

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/C/Chatham/translocated-chicks.jpg)

 Translocated chicks on their bucket nests among adult decoys at Point Gap

 The attempt to create a second breeding colony at Point Gap for the [globally Vulnerable](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22698393) species is being led by the NGO [Chatham Island Taiko Trust](http://www.taiko.org.nz/). The current group of 60 chicks is the fifth and last cohort to be hand-reared, bringing the total number translocated over the five years of the project to 282 ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/14-news/latest-news/2952-last-year-of-hand-rearing-translocated-chatham-albatross-chicks-now-underway?highlight=WyJjaGF0aGFtIiwidHJhbnNsb2NhdGlvbiIsImNoYXRoYW0gdHJhbnNsb2NhdGlvbiJd)).

 Decoys and a sound system will be left in place at Point Gap to help attract albatrosses to the site - which will be monitored for returning hand-reared as well as for wild birds. Visits to the Pyramid will also be made to look for any translocated birds that might have returned there instead.

 Access *ALN* earlier postings on the translocation exercise [here](https://www.acap.aq/en/search14?q=Chatham+translocation).

 With thanks to Dave Boyle, Chatham Island Taiko Trust.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 April 2018*