This tiny southern royal albatross chick has just hatched. The parents will take turns to brood it until it is able to maintain its temperature without assistance. For southern royal albatrosses this takes four to five weeks. Meanwhile, the non-brooding parent feeds the chick with frequent small meals. It has to work hard to find food close enough to the island, and travels to and fro in often adverse winds to maintain the needs of the very young chick. As the chick grows, meals are delivered several days apart.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Reference: 10039438
by Ian Flux
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.