Egg laying has commenced for the 2025/26 breeding season of Northern Royal Albatrosses at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head

 Female LYL (Lime-Yellow-Lime) exposes her egg for the photographer, her new partner is behind, photograph from the Royal Albatross Centre

Egg laying has begun for Endangered Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi in the mainland colony within the Pukekura/Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve, South Island, New Zealand, as reported on 06 November.

 “Northern Royal Albatross only lay one egg every two years, so the start of a new albatross generation is always a momentous occasion at Pukekura.  These hefty eggs will be laid over November and incubated for the next eighty days.  Albatross parents will work together to juggle incubation and foraging until their chicks are old enough to sit on the headland by themselves (approximately 5-6 weeks old).  These chicks will keep them working full-time all the way up to September when they finally fledge and leave the nest.”

“The Royal Cam will be moved after all eggs have been laid and a suitable Royal Cam family can be chosen. Cam pair location depends on being in range of the cable, the cam needs to be higher up from the nest and the pair needs to be a reliable and tolerant pair.”

Information from the Facebook groups Royal Albatross Centre and Royal Cam Albatross Group New Zealand.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 November 2025