Preliminary results of the autopsy on the royal albatross chick which died at Taiaroa Head at the weekend indicate it died of kidney failure.
Further tests were being performed to determine what caused the kidney failure, Department of Conservation community relations officer John Gordon said.
The veterinary pathologist at Massey University, which undertook the autopsy, noted the chick was in good condition apart from the kidney failure, he said.
In the meantime, life continued at the Royal Albatross Colony with winds providing excellent flying conditions for the albatrosses yesterday.
Otago Peninsula Trust general manager Robyn McDonald said despite two of the chicks dying, there was another chick visible from the observation area and others could be seen by closed-circuit television.
"Visitors have been able to see the albatross flying."
If visitors did not see an albatross they were given a pass enabling them to try again another day, she said.
A winter promotion providing cheaper tickets to Dunedin families to visit the centre had proved popular in recent weeks, she said.
