That warning came yesterday from centre assistant operations manager Ashleigh Compton, who said some visitors to the Otago Peninsula site were ignoring signs stating the car park and surrounds were a non-smoking area.
"Some people are smoking in front of the sign," Miss Compton said.
"Everyone should be aware" that recent dry conditions had increased the fire risk, and smoking was not allowed, she said.
Department of Conservation Taiaroa Head biodiversity ranger Michael Hitchcock confirmed the fire risk and the threat that recent unusually hot weather was posing to the albatross colony at Taiaroa Head. He was mindful of potential fire risks arising from drying vegetation at the colony.
"What’s going to happen with climate change?"
The dry grass was a potential fire risk and it was important visitors obeyed no-smoking signs, he said.
More use had already been made, early in this nesting phase, of a sprinkler system to keep the nesting northern royal albatrosses cool, he said.
Unusually hot weather had included a week-long heatwave earlier this month.
More hand watering had been undertaken early this season than in the past, Mr Hitchcock said.
Hand watering was undertaken when only a few birds might be subject to potential heat stress. Water for the system was trucked in.
The overall cooling system was "really important" to protect the nesting birds from "heat stress", and an incubator was also used to protect vulnerable eggs in hot conditions.
