GLG has been on the nest for 9 straight days but her shift is over with the return of her mate RLK! He flies in and lands next to her and they both greet one another with a series of beautiful skycalls. Such happiness they share at being reunited again after RLK's long trip at sea foraging for food. They pick up like no time has passed and being allopreening one another (grooming) and sitting next to one another. RLK does get up to do some gardening for several minutes, returning to wait for GLG to get up so he can take over incubation of their egg.

Finally GLG gets up and the changeover happens quickly with RLK focusing on the egg and then shimming down to cover it. GLG begins to do some gardening as well and getting up to walk around and return. GLG and RLK had an hour long visit so I did have to edit and shorten the video. GLG can be seen walking off towards the right and disappearing in the grass. Then we have some great closeups of RLK in the fading sunset he is happy and content to be incubating his egg now.

RLK will stay on the egg and will not leave it, nor will he eat or drink anything until GLG returns in a few days, a week or longer. The rangers will check the egg and parent daily to see who is on the nest and to make sure all is okay. Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

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20242025 Season of Royal Albatross

Nest site: Signal Station Trig. Taiaroa Head, New Zealand

Royalcam Couple: RLK (Red, Lime, black) 12yearold male and GLG (Green, Lime Green) 14yearold female.

Egg laid: November 11th 2024. It has been candled and is fertile. RLK and GLG will take turns to incubate the egg for 2.5 months.

This pair started breeding in 2019/20, but their egg failed that season. They successfully raised two female chicks during 2021 and 2023 respectively. Their nests during these seasons were not far from the Royalcam nests of Tiaki and Manaaki and the chicks were seen on cam later in the season.
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Please join the official facebook group Royal Cam Albatross 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

Cam Link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/ro...