---
title: "The Northern Royal Albatrosses at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura are having a record breeding season"
---

# The Northern Royal Albatrosses at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura are having a record breeding season

*![2025 26 Northrn Royal Albatross pair](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/2025-26_Northrn_Royal_Albatross_pair.jpg)Female Northern Royal Albatross LYL (Lime-Yellow-Lime) stands over her newly laid egg in November 2025, with male partner behind, photograph by Department of Conservation Ranger Scott*

 Hatching statistics are in for the [intensively managed colony](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/the-acap-monthly-missive-pip-pip-hooray-looking-after-hatching-eggs-and-hatchlings-in-the-northern-royal-albatross-colony-at-pukekura-taiaroa-head) of globally [Endangered](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/northern-royal-albatross-diomedea-sanfordi) Northern Royal Albatrosses *Diomedea sanfordi* at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura on New Zealand’s South Island.

 Of the 47 eggs laid in the current 2025/26 breeding season, a record 40 chicks have hatched giving a hatching success of 85.1%.  One chick died when two days old, with the remaining 39 currently transcending to the post-guard stage.

 *![Royal can chick 2026](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Royal_can_chick_2026.png)  
The 2025/26 Royal Cam chick at 46 days of age spreads it’s still stubby wings*

 Watch the pair [WYL and BOK](https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/royal-cam-discussion/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQh2PtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNQnNqc094V0wzMUkzWEFHc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr8Tvcn3InoyEQhB5ZELCjQazGx0WJcdzQVXAr5OKWee1w26IC6bK2uaoVFH_aem_BTGl5zLVqx9BCkz5SZVJGw) rearing their male chick, which hatched on 22 January, throughout the breeding season via the 24-hour [Royal Cam](https://AllAboutBirds.org/Albatross).

 Information from the New Zealand Department of Conservation [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/docgovtnz).

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses* *and Petrels, 17 March 2026*