Ringing reception for albatross

St Paul's Cathedral verger James Aitken gives it his all to welcome back the first northern royal...
St Paul's Cathedral verger James Aitken gives it his all to welcome back the first northern royal albatross to Taiaroa Head during a bell-ringing event around Dunedin yesterday. Photos: Gregor Richardson/Colin Facer
Bells rang out around Dunedin yesterday to celebrate the homecoming of the first northern royal albatross for the spring breeding season.

Otago Peninsula Trust marketing manager Sophie Barker said "ROB'', arrived back last Friday.

Male northern royal albatross ''ROB'', short for red/orange/blue, enjoys the quiet at Taiaroa...
Male northern royal albatross ''ROB'', short for red/orange/blue, enjoys the quiet at Taiaroa Head after being the first albatross of the season to arrive back on Friday.

The male had since been joined by another albatross, she said.

''Last year, we had 125 arrive. We need a bit more wind to bring them back,'' she said, laughing.

Ms Barker expected a similar number of albatrosses would arrive at the colony by October to start breeding.

Male albatrosses usually arrived about four days ahead of the females to "set up home''.

Royal Albatross Centre manager Hoani Langsbury said the bell at Otakou Marae was rung 19 times yesterday to represent the number of chicks which fledged at the colony this year.

The marae's bell came from the trading ship Perseverance, which had a history of safe voyages across the Tasman, Mr Langsbury said.

"It reflects the celebration of the safe journey the albatross have also had.''

Ringing the church bells at Opoho Presbyterian Church was extra special for Rosalie Beyer (3) and her mother, Kirsten.

Rosalie's late great-grandparents, Kaj and Kirsten Westerskov, originally from Denmark, used to spend much of their time at Taiaroa Head.

Prof Westerskov was an ornithologist and Mrs Beyer said she remembered her grandmother saying "how wonderful it was to live in a city that celebrated the return of the albatross by ringing church bells across the city''.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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