Category Archives: Uncategorized

Wednesday morning workmen cut the branches and most of the trunk of the tree I wrote about in Tuesday’s post, the heliotrope on the golf course that was blown over during our recent rainstorms.  The albatross nest next to the … Continue reading →

There is a beach heliotrope tree on the golf course that albatrosses have chosen as a nest site through the years.  This year, a couple who first nested there two years ago built their nest under that tree and have … Continue reading →

Even when their chicks are still in the egg, albatross parents are talking with them.  The whole time the chick is pipping he is communicating with the parent on the nest.  So it is no surprise that when the parents … Continue reading →

On February 21st, the 20th Princeville chick hatched.  This is the latest chick we have had here, at least in the last 7 seasons.  The same couple also had the last one in 2011.  This makes our total twice the … Continue reading →

Now is the time of year when parents start leaving their chicks alone in the nest.  Take this little guy: People in Princeville will start to see this sign: Parents are searching for food and leaving chicks alone.  Please don’t … Continue reading →

It has not been a good year for the incubator eggs from nests at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (see http://www.acap.aq/2011-news-archive/sixth-year-for-the-laysan-albatross-egg-swap-on-kauai-hawaii-deemed-a-success) that were placed under 8 of the birds in Princeville.  One broke a few weeks ago and 4 of them … Continue reading →

I have seen albatrosses abandon their eggs but I have never seen one refuse to take care of a chick.  There is something about a baby that is irresistible to an albatross.  When a parent comes home to the nest … Continue reading →

Let me reiterate a point I made earlier.  I NEVER take a photo of a chick by sticking a camera close to him.  This would be extremely stressful for the parent; nobody who loves albatrosses and who cares about their … Continue reading →

Albatrosses are known to be synchronous nesters:  The Laysan albatrosses here all lay their eggs from the end of November to mid-December, and they all hatch from the end of January into mid-February.  We are in the middle of our … Continue reading →

Checking on the albatrosses every day is a lot of work, but this is the time of year when I am rewarded for every moment.  Hatching has begun in Princeville. Chicks usually take several days to break out of their … Continue reading →