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title: "Second highest hatchling count for Northern Royal Albatrosses at Taiaroa Head despite suspected egg poaching"
---

# Second highest hatchling count for Northern Royal Albatrosses at Taiaroa Head despite suspected egg poaching

*![WAD2023 Poster NRAs SharynBroni Final](https://www.acap.aq/images/WAD2023/WAD2023_Poster_NRAs_SharynBroni_Final.jpg)  
Northern Royal Albatrosses display at Taiaroa Head, photograph by Sharyn Broni, poster design by Bree Forrer*

 New Zealand’s endemic Northern Royal Albatross *Diomedea sanfordi* is one of four albatross species being featured for this year’s World Albatross Day with its theme of “[Plastic Pollution](https://www.acap.aq/world-albatross-day/wad2023-plastic-pollution)” on 19 June.  A good time then to report that the mainland colony at [Taiaroa Head/Pukekura](https://www.acap.aq/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1307-acap-breeding-sites-no-6-taiaroa-head-pukekura-new-zealand-an-albatross-colony-on-the-mainland) of this globally [Endangered](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/northern-royal-albatross-diomedea-sanfordi) and [nationally Vulnerable](https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/northern-royal-albatross) albatross species has hatched its second highest number of chicks in the current 2022/23 breeding season.

 Despite losing four eggs to suspected poachers back in November last year ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/4506-missing-northern-royal-albatross-eggs-mystery-likely-to-remain-unsolved?highlight=WyJ0YWlhcm9hIiwidGFpYXJvYSdzIl0=)), 33 eggs have hatched successfully.  This compares to the 2020/21 season when 36 chicks hatched – the highest number since the colony was established in the 1930s.  A total of 41 eggs was laid and 33 chicks fledged in that season ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/4170-record-breeding-season-for-northern-royal-albatrosses-at-new-zealand-s-taiaroa-head?highlight=WyJ0YWlhcm9hIiwidGFpYXJvYSdzIiwyMDIxXQ==)).

 You can follow the fortunes of the intensively managed colony on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/albatrosscentre) and via the 24-hour livestreaming “[Royal Cam](https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/)”.  View and download this year’s posters featuring Northern Royals for WAD2023 [here](https://www.acap.aq/world-albatross-day/wad2023-plastic-pollution/world-albatross-day-2023-logos-posters/4486-wad-2022-photographic-posters).

 With thanks to Sharyn Broni, Ranger, Department of Conservation, Taiaroa Head.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses* *and Petrels, 28 February 2023*