Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
During a beautiful New Zealand sunrise, an albatross chick exercises its wings in preparation for fledging. While Āwheo has been off exploring, other chicks from around the colony have wandered near the Royal Cam. By the down remaining on this individual's wings and her band number, she has been identified as "NP" chick from a nearby nest ("NP" stands for "North Plateau," the area where her nest is located).
According to Department of Conservation (DOC) Ranger Sharyn Broni, the first albatross chick of the 2026 colony fledged on the afternoon of September 2. Though we are not seeing Āwheo as much on cam recently, we can confirm that he has not yet fledged and is still moving about the area.
#RoyalCam was set up in January 2016 by the Department of Conservation and the Cornell Lab has been collaborating with DOC since 2019 to bring the cam to life. To learn more while watching, view the cam at
doc.govt.nz/royalcam
or at
allaboutbirds.org/albatross
*******************************
Royal Cam is a 24-hour live stream of a Northern Royal Albatross nest during the breeding season at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on the southeast tip of New Zealand's South Island.
The 2025–26 season features an established pair at the Plateau nest site: 11-year-old male WYL (named for his leg bands—White, Yellow, Lime) and 12-year-old female BOK (Blue, Orange, blacK). This duo has been breeding together since 2022, but this is their first season as the featured pair on the Royal Cam. Their initial breeding attempt was unsuccessful; however, their second attempt produced a male chick that successfully fledged in 2024. This year’s fertile egg was laid on November 6, 2025.
Follow the cam at https://x.com/RoyAlbatrossCam
to get all the updates during what’s sure to be another action-packed season on New Zealand’s South Island.
#birdcams #live #albatross #birds #wildlife #nature #nowplaying #newzealand #endangeredspecies
During a beautiful New Zealand sunrise, an albatross chick exercises its wings in preparation for fledging. While Āwheo has been off exploring, other chicks from around the colony have wandered near the Royal Cam. By the down remaining on this individual's wings and her band number, she has been identified as "NP" chick from a nearby nest ("NP" stands for "North Plateau," the area where her nest is located).
According to Department of Conservation (DOC) Ranger Sharyn Broni, the first albatross chick of the 2026 colony fledged on the afternoon of September 2. Though we are not seeing Āwheo as much on cam recently, we can confirm that he has not yet fledged and is still moving about the area.
#RoyalCam was set up in January 2016 by the Department of Conservation and the Cornell Lab has been collaborating with DOC since 2019 to bring the cam to life. To learn more while watching, view the cam at
doc.govt.nz/royalcam
or at
allaboutbirds.org/albatross
*******************************
Royal Cam is a 24-hour live stream of a Northern Royal Albatross nest during the breeding season at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on the southeast tip of New Zealand's South Island.
The 2025–26 season features an established pair at the Plateau nest site: 11-year-old male WYL (named for his leg bands—White, Yellow, Lime) and 12-year-old female BOK (Blue, Orange, blacK). This duo has been breeding together since 2022, but this is their first season as the featured pair on the Royal Cam. Their initial breeding attempt was unsuccessful; however, their second attempt produced a male chick that successfully fledged in 2024. This year’s fertile egg was laid on November 6, 2025.
Follow the cam at https://x.com/RoyAlbatrossCam
to get all the updates during what’s sure to be another action-packed season on New Zealand’s South Island.
#birdcams #live #albatross #birds #wildlife #nature #nowplaying #newzealand #endangeredspecies
