---
title: "A translocated Black-footed Albatross pair fledges a chick on the Hawaiian island of Oahu"
---

# A translocated Black-footed Albatross pair fledges a chick on the Hawaiian island of Oahu

*![Ohau firs time breeder 3](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_footed/Ohau_firs_time_breeder_3.jpg)The first Black-footed Albatross chick successfully reared by translocated parents begs for a meal on the Hawaiian island of Oahu*

 With sea-level rise and storm water surges threatening the albatrosses of Hawaii’s low-lying atolls, comes the news that a translocation project run by the environmental NGO [Pacific Rim Conservation](https://pacificrimconservation.org/)  has led to Black-footed Albatrosses *Phoebastria nigripes* breeding on Oahu in the 2023/24 season, as revealed last week on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/prconservation).  This represents a new breeding locality for this ACAP-listed and [Near Threatened](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-footed-albatross-phoebastria-nigripes) species.

 * ![Ohau firs time breeder 1](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_footed/Ohau_firs_time_breeder_1.jpg)  
Translocated *Black-footed Albatross*V666 broods its chick in the James Campbell National Wildlife Reserve on Oahu*

 “We are thrilled to announce a huge milestone - in 2024, the first wild Ka'upu (Black-footed albatross) chick fledged from the Main Hawaiian Islands in over 400 years!

 The ka'upu chick, E999, raised by a pair of translocated ka'upu, V434 and V666, marks a huge success for seabird conservation. Both V434 and V666 were translocated as chicks from Midway Atoll NWR to James Campbell NWR, where they were hand-fed fish slurry by PRC’s Aviculturist Robby Kohley and a specially trained team of staff, interns, and volunteers. After new breeding colonies of vulnerable seabird species that are safe from sea-level rise. By building mammalian exclusion fences, removing invasive predators, and socially attracting and/or translocating birds into these protected areas, we can create safe, higher elevation refugia for ground nesting seabirds.”

 *![Ohau firs time breeder 2](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_footed/Ohau_firs_time_breeder_2.jpg)   
Translocated V666 broods its chick, photographs from Pacific Rim Conservation*

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 26 May 2025*