Five of the six species of the great albatross can be seen in Kaikoura. The great albatross are the larger of the albatross species.

Wandering Albatross

There are four subspecies of wandering albatross; distinguished from similar royal albatross by not having a black cutting edge along its bill.

1. Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) also known as Snowy Albatross
2. Antipodean Albatross (Diomedea antipodensis)
3. Gibson's Albatross (Diomedea Gibsoni)
4. Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) (not seen in Kaikoura).

Facts about the wandering albatross:

• Just over half the world population of 32, 000 breeding pairs are found on New Zealand's Sub-Antarctic Islands (Antipodes, Campbell and Auckland Islands).
• Long lived species and birds do not begin breeding until 7-16 years old.
• Concern over accidental bycatch of wandering albatross by longliners and trawlers.
• Naturally feeds on squid, but also attracted to fish waste from fishing boats.
• Largest flying bird with wingspan of 3.4 metres and weighs 6.5 kilograms.
• Satellite transmitters have been put on wandering albatross and have shown that birds can travel an incredible 1000 miles per day.
• Three species recorded throughout the year off Kaikoura, usually seen singularly, although groups of up to 14 or more birds may be seen around fishing boats. Chances of seeing wandering albatross increase as you go further offshore. Three out of the four subspecies of wandering albatross have been sighted off the Kaikoura Coast, these are:

1. Antipodensis- breeds on the Antipodes and Campbell Islands
2. Gibsoni- breeds on the Auckland Islands
3. Exulans- (snowy albatross) which breeds in the South Indian Ocean 

Northern Royal Albatross - Toroa

Facts about the northern royal albatross:

• Breeds on the Chatham Islands and at a small colony on Tairoa Head near Dunedin.
• The Tairoa head colony is the only mainland albatross colony in the world.
• World population of 6500 breeding pairs.
• Traditionally harvested by the Morioris and then Maoris.
• Birds mate for life.
• One bird banded at the Tairoa Head colony was known as Grandma and lived to 61 years old.
• Feed on squid.
• Distinguished from the southern royal albatross by having entirely black upperwings.
• The large flight feathers of the larger albatrosses were collected by Maori for ceremonial purposes and were highly prized.
• Single birds seen throughout the year off the Kaikoura Coast. 

Southern Royal Albatross - Toroa

Facts about the southern royal albatross:

• Breeds on Auckland and Campbell Islands with a population of 15, 000 breeding pairs.
• Young birds leave New Zealand waters and fly circumpolar through the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans before returning to New Zealand waters to breed as adults when 6-10 years old.
• Distinguished from wandering albatross by having a black line on the bill and from the northern royal albatross by having more white on the upper wing.
• Heaviest species of albatross weighing up to 9 kilograms. Unlike the wandering albatross, its population appears to be stable.
• Seen off the Kaikoura Coast throughout the year, generally singularly, although up to 3 or more birds may be seen around fishing boats. Generally an offshore species seen more than 3 miles off the coast, although they may be seen close to shore during storms.

Banded Albatross

Most of the albatross seen in Kaikoura have travelled thousands of kilometres to get here. Some of the albatross seen in Kaikoura have bands on their legs and these bands have been put on while the birds are on their nesting sites on Sub Antarctic Islands.

Kath Walker and Greame Elliot have been working on wandering albatross in the Auckland and Antipodes Islands since 1991 when the problem of their accidental capture in long-line fisheries was first becoming known. They initially funded this project themselves, with some logistical help from the Department of Conservation, till 1996. From 1996-2005 they received funds from the NZ Govt and the long line fishing industry (a 50:50 split). These funds allowed them to measure population trends and to determine where both Gibson’s and Antipodean wandering albatrosses foraged, and to measure survival and productivity. Unfortunately, after over a decade’s effort, just when they were starting to get those first banded chicks returning to the island, their funding stopped.

After all the years of trying to get a banded population of known-age birds so they could accurately model and monitor their population trends, they didn’t feel like giving up ( just as the data began pouring in), so they paid for a 2006 trip to the Auckland Islands themsleves. That year the population plummeted, so then they just had to keep going, as they wanted to know why and where it would all end. 

They have managed to hitchhike to the Auckland Islands each summer since, on boats with other (funded) researchers, or sometimes with the navy or tourist operators. A NIWA team working on other seabirds on the Antipodes Islands have carried out enough work on Kath and Graeme's banded albatross population to keep it going there.

For photos and details on some banded birds seen on our tours go to the Gallery.

We also have had sightings of banded royal albatross that have been banded at the breeding site at Taiaroa Head, Dunedin. Once again these can be viewed on our Gallery.