Dunedin's royal albatross colony welcomes first chick of the season

January 20, 2021

The bird, which hatched five days ahead of schedule, is the first of 41 eggs.

The royal albatross colony at Otago's Taiaroa Heads has welcomed its first hatching of the season.

The bird, which hatched five days ahead of schedule, is the first of 41 eggs to hatch — the second largest number laid in a season.

The yet-to-be-named bird will feed for the next nine months before taking to the skies, not to return for years.

At the same time, older birds will return and lay eggs to start the cycle over again.

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