DOC Rangers Band And Tag Northern Royal Albatross Chicks Across The Colony – Aug. 9, 2024

The Northern Royal Albatross chicks from the Top Flat and Top Flat Track nests received their steel leg bands and Geo Location Sensor (GLS) tags on August 9. Watch rangers and staff from the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) arrive to affix a stainless-steel band to the right leg of the Top Flat Track chick in this highlight. After the band is placed, a GLS tag is secured to the band with a cable tie. Each stainless-steel band has a unique number that helps DOC conservationists identify individual albatrosses. The GLS tags are used to collect location data for up to 3 years of movements after the albatrosses leave the breeding colony to aid in research that has never been carried out in this species before. Once the albatrosses return to the breeding colony in search of a mate, the data will be retrieved from the GLS tags. To learn more about GLS tags, watch this informational highlight:    • Royal Albatross Chick Receives GLS Tag To ...   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 https://www.doc.govt.nz/royalcam or at https://www.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. This season (2023–24) features two nests in view. At the main site to the left of the frame, male LGK (named for his colored leg band combination: Lime/Green/Black) and female LGL (Lime/Green/Lime) return to the Top Flat nest site, where they are caring for a single egg laid on November 7. Nearby to the right, male WYL (White/Yellow/Lime) and female BOK (Blue/Orange/Black) have been tending to their egg since it was laid on November 14 at the Top Track Flat site. This site is currently obscured by tall grass, which will die down and open up the view as the season progresses.   / 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