Royal Albatross ~ Rangers Take The Chick's Weight! Both Boys Looking Great! 💕 5.21.24

The rangers have their rain gear on as they take all the chicks weights in the colony on this cold and rainy Tuesday. Ranger Colin approaches TF who knows that he is going to get picked up and put in the white basket to get his weight taken. Colin secures TF and they take his weight - then bring back down and TF struggles in the basket - they go back up to take another weight check but came back down really fast - I wonder if the first weight check was questionable? Colin puts TF on his nest and they leave for a couple of minutes and then go over to take TFT's weight. TFT did clack at first but was cooperative in the basket. They put TFT back on his nest and they leave. TFT will shake out his wing afterwards. Nice closeups of TF standing up and then laying back down! Another successful weight check completed!

From Sharyn Broni on their weights: " Top Flat chick is 119 days old and weighs 8.7 kg(19.18 lbs) at 10.10 am today. Average male is 8.4 kg; average female is 7.2 kg. LGK fed his chick after weighing and LGL came in later. This will mean that Top Flat chick is over 9 kg and well over average weight for his age. Top Flat Track chick is 111 days old and weighs 8.2 kg (18 lbs) and is a good increase on last week's 7.5 kg. Average male weight for day 111 is 8.1 kg. BOK and WYL have been in to feed frequently over the past week.

The regular weighing ensures that chicks who may be missing a parent can be supplementary fed and survive to fledging and beyond. Read more about our conservation work here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/rangers-work-for-royal-albatross/

The heaviest chick this week is 10 kg and we now have a very light-weight chick who is receiving regular supplementary feeds. Chicks consistently over the average weight are now weighed every 2nd week so the lighter weight chicks can be focused on. In the past all chicks were weighed each week build the data set that we use to inform the need for supplementary feeding. Recently there has been some little owl activity on cam in the evenings. This is not a native species to New Zealand but was introduced here over 100 years ago from Germany. " Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

Please join the official facebook group Royal Cam Albatross Group New Zealand for up to date information on the albatross family and to share information on albatross conservation, photos and comments! https://www.facebook.com/groups/991026361293354/

Courtesy of Dept of Conservation Royal Cam, Royal Albatross Taiaroa Head, New Zealand

Cam Link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/royal-albatross/

Видео Royal Albatross ~ Rangers Take The Chick's Weight! Both Boys Looking Great! 💕 5.21.24 канала Lady Hawk