Royal Albatross ~ Beautiful Returnee Albatross WKW Is Back! 💕💕 10.17.22

The returning breeders and single non breeders continue to arrive at Taiaroa Head and we now have a total of 66 returnees! One of the returnees is a female breeder WKW (White Black White) who had a chick in 2021. Her mate went missing and the rangers did have to supplement feed their chick until it fledged successfully. ♥ WKW is now back hoping to find her mate and breed again this season. WKW sees another albie landing and she immediately skycalls and rushes out to see if this is her love but unfortunately it is not so she will eventually walk off to the right.

When an albatross goes missing mid season while raising a chick, the odds are not favorable that they will return. WKW may not breed this season - she will continue to wait for her mate and then end up leaving sometime in December when all the other single non breeders depart to South America. Albatross mate for life so it may take her a while to accept and find a new mate. WKW is a real beauty and I do hope that she finds love again soon. ♥
Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

I have included a new feature where you can click on the timestamp below and it will take you to the EXACT SPOT in the video so you scroll through those moments quickly! Hope you enjoy this!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Opening
01:42 WKW skycalls
03:00 Closeups of WKW
04:17 Red billed gull visits WKW
05:46 WKW bands White Black White
08:34 WKW skycalls incoming albie - rushes to see who it is!
11:54 WKW gets up and departs to the right

Please join the official facebook group Royal Cam Albaross Group New Zealand for up to date information on the albatross family and to share information on albatross conservation, photos and comments!   / 991026361293354  

Courtesy of Dept of Conservation Royal Cam, Royal Albatross Taiaroa Head, New Zealand & Cornell