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title: "Taiaroa Head’s Royal Cam chick fledges with a tracker - and a name"
---

# Taiaroa Head’s Royal Cam chick fledges with a tracker - and a name

 ![Kaewa 10 September](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Kaewa_10_September.jpg)*Kaewa on 10 September, seven days before fledging, Royal Cam photograph*

 The [Endangered](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/northern-royal-albatross-diomedea-sanfordi) Northern Royal Albatross *Diomedea sanfordi* chick of the 2024/25 breeding season that has been the subject of the 24-hour live-streaming “[Royal Cam](https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/)” at New Zealand’s mainland [Taiaroa Head/Pukekura colony](https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/otago-peninsula-area/taiaroa-head-nature-reserve/) has fledged.  Named Kaewa, which means to adventure/travel or roam in Te Reo Māori, she has been fitted with a GPS satellite tracking device, along with a plastic band YellowE55and a metalband R-65278 with a cable-tied Geolocation Sensor (GLS) on the opposite leg on 01 August.  Kaewa fledged on 17 September at 232 days of age (and a mass of 7.7 kg, up from 286 g at hatching).

 ![Kaewa 500 km](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Kaewa_500_km.png)

 “She’s on her massive round-the-world journey to the coast of South America, where she will live for a few years, before returning home to Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, via the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, to breed.  She's 500 km into her travels already, heading in a northeasterly direction toward Rēkohu/Chatham Islands”.  Follow her at-sea movements [here](https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/royal-cam-discussion/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNJrqdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE2aUVDMXhRZHh6M2NDaTNZAR7f1FiKsj3O_uSFenGi0HmAKkIpgHqbtktNmk0lVhvwOQYZLCSD2snqn5F6Hg_aem_x75oHQ1wbPC-2tB5ZHuetA).

  *A 2024/25 chick fledges on camera following extended hovering in a strong wind on 25 September*

 A total of 18 GPS trackers, nine on females and nine on males, has been attached to the back feathers of 2024/25 chicks.  On 30 September there were still eight chicks to take flight and fledge from the colony.

 The Royal Cam live stream will be moved to a new location in November after the 2025/26 season's eggs have been laid by birds that are [now returning](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/we-hope-you-have-your-bells-ready-the-first-northern-royal-albatross-has-returned-to-taiaroa-head) to the colony.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 October 2025*