Chance to name big baby

The albatross chick which has been the star of the Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony webcam since hatching in January. Image: Royal Albatross Centre.
The albatross chick which has been the star of the Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony webcam since hatching in January. Image: Royal Albatross Centre.
The public have a chance to name and meet the internet's most famous albatross.

Yesterday, the Department of Conservation launched an online naming competition for the star of the Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony's webcam.

The chick, which follows in the bird prints of the colony's first royal webcam star Moana, was born in January.

Department of Conservation threatened species ambassador Nicola Toki said giving the public the opportunity to name the chick was a way of thanking them for watching the royal cam and asking questions.

Since the chick hatched, the royal cam webpage had been viewed 232,963 times.

''As the success of royal cam has shown, albatross are highly charismatic and remarkable birds.

''In choosing a name, people should consider ideas suitable for both genders that celebrate this species, this special location or reflect this chick's characteristics.''

This year's chick differed to the clean and composed Moana because it was ''keen on a sleep-in'', temperamental and sometimes ''a little unkempt'', Ms Toki said.

The competition to name Moana attracted 2400 suggestions, including Highlander and Jabba the Fluff.

People have until June 2 to suggest a name.

Te Poari a Pukekura (the Pukekura co-management Trust) would select the top five names and the winning name would be announced on June 20 following public vote.

The person with the winning name suggestion would have the opportunity to meet the chick as part of a prize.

The royal cam would record the chick until it fledged about September.

Make suggestions at www.doc.govt.nz/namethechick

Comments

What is the point of asking for suggestions? Think back to the Otago Settlers Museum and the previous albatross chick. It's an inevitable outcome, so the trust should just get on and name the chick themselves.

 

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