'FORUM FRIENDS, WILDLIFE-FROM-WHEREVER' (Off-season, all cams off at Loch Garten)

Here's the NZ albatross chick, about to have her leg bands fitted

(c) DOC/Cornell

That chicks huge now, thanks for posting Korky I'd forgotten all about it in the past few months of lockdown.

Thanks for that photograph Korky, I knew they were big, but that photo gives perspective into just how big

Here is Atawhai, Maori for kindness, the female Royal Northern Albatross chick in Dunedin NZ, being fed by her dad. She now weighs 8.2kg and will soon fledge, after hatching on 31 January

(c) DOC/Cornell

Super-close to the camera in NZ this morning!

(c) DOC/Cornell

 Atawhai has fledged :)  I haven't seen a "good" view of it, she seemed to drift downwards out of sight off the cliff and the cam couldn't see any more.  So "up, up and away" isn't really appropriate

scylla said:

Atawhai has fledged :)  I haven't seen a "good" view of it, she seemed to drift downwards out of sight off the cliff and the cam couldn't see any more.  So "up, up and away" isn't really appropriate

https://youtu.be/CVJdER7FtbA

Well spotted scylla, thank you. I have loved following this family this year. The albatross face such enormous challenges in their lives. The RSPB have set up 'The Albatross Task Force'. They’re often accidentally captured in fishing gear and this is driving population declines.

I loved watching Atawhai fledge! The spread-albatrossed legs dangling from her body, so hesitant!

And the season starts again later this year. 

Thank you for posting the video of Atawhai fledging. .How beautiful she is!

Unknown said:

I loved watching Atawhai fledge! The spread-albatrossed legs dangling from her body, so hesitant!

Me too!  They made her look so very young and brave