Albatross breeding takes hit
EXTREME summer heat has destroyed albatross eggs at Taiaroa Head, leading to a 42% drop in hatched chicks this year.
In a statement yesterday, Department of Conservation threatened species ambassador Nicola Toki said unusually high temperatures ‘‘detrimentally impacted’’ the breeding season of the northern royal albatross, and just over 50% of the 29 fertile eggs hatched.
Taiaroa Head — the world’s only mainland colony and a popular Otago Peninsula tourist attraction — had only 15 chicks, compared with 26 and 23 at the same time in the last two years respectively.
‘‘This is despite intensive management by our rangers in response to the region’s record hot weather.’’
The problem was exacerbated by a lack of wind, which was vital for the birds to fly to and from the colony.
This could force birds to abandon nests and fly to sea to ‘‘forage for themselves’’, she said.
‘‘Weather conditions also increased the incidence of flystrike after hatching, with seven chicks being affected, contributing to one mortality.’’
Doc rangers were continuing daily management of remaining chicks to ensure they had the best chance of surviving to fledge, she said.
In a typical year, 70% to 85% of fertile eggs hatched and about 90% of those survived to leave the nest at about eight months.
Doc had fears other Otago species such as yelloweyed penguins and sea lions would also have been affected by high temperatures.
Taiaroa Head operations manager Hoani Langsbury said the embryo deaths were ‘‘tragic’’.
‘‘I would say it’s significant, although it’s not the first time that this type of event has happened, so we were somewhat better prepared for it.’’
However, he did not know the last time there was such a low rate of hatched fertile eggs.
If the colony had not provided Doc with water to cool down the birds during hot weather, even more embryos would have been lost, he said.
Colony management had made sure there was a steady supply of water since losing an adult and chick to heatstroke 10 years ago, he said.
The colony could potentially recover next season, as the parents which did not raise chicks this year would try again rather than taking a year off, he said.
However, summer temperatures were expected to keep increasing, he cautioned.
NORTH Otago is on watch for heavy rain from extropical cyclone Gita and MetService says the effects of the storm could be felt even further south.
Gita is the categorythree cyclone that lashed Tonga last week and has now turned towards New Zealand.
Early tracking models had the remnants of Gita aiming for Wellington, Cook Strait and the upper South Island. But the latest models show the cyclone making landfall squarely on the South Island.
Heavy rainfall and violent winds are expected across the northern South Island tomorrow night, followed by heavy rain in the central South Island.
MetService duty forecaster Claire Flynn said yesterday the only area in the southern region on watch for heavy rain was North Otago.
The watch was in place from 4pm tomorrow to 4pm on Wednesday, when there could be rain of up to ‘‘warning criteria’’ of 100mm in 24 hours.
There were no ‘‘watch’’ areas for severe gales in Otago.
It was expected the centre of the cyclone would track over the upper South Island, but if it ‘‘wobbles a little bit further south’’ it could bring heavy rain with it.
Watches were issued when an event was two or three days out and could change to warnings as the situation became clearer.
The forecast for Dunedin and Central Otago was for periods of rain on Wednesday, from the storm’s cloud sheets.