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Story: Albatrosses

Chick

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Chick

This small southern royal albatross chick still needs the warmth of its parents to prevent it from chilling. After about four weeks, brooding is not as necessary, but a parent continues to keep guard for another week or two to fend off skuas and other dangers. Then both parents visit the nest at regular intervals to feed the chick until it fledges, at about eight months old.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10047939

by Don Merton

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How to cite this page

Paul Sagar, Albatrosses – Life history, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7064/chick (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Sagar, published 2 March 2009.