Strong winds blowing across the Otago Peninsula of New Zealand's South Island create perfect conditions for the Northern Royal Albatross chicks to test their flight skills. Here, the chick from the Top Flat nest catches air under his gigantic wings and hovers near the edge of the bluff. Practice makes perfect when it comes to flying, and these hovering bouts will soon pay dividends once the chick is ready to take wing over the open ocean for the first time! Watch LIVE at AllAboutBirds.org/Albatr

Only a couple of weeks remain until the Northern Royal Albatross chick is expected to hatch! Let's take a look at what to expect to see on cam this month as we await the chick's arrival. Check in LIVE at AllAboutBirds.org/Albatross | Bird Cams

The first northern royal albatross chick has hatched! Here’s a quick peek of the new chick (it’s only a peek because mum was very protective!) This is the first chick of the season and a teaser of what we can look forward to from our new and improved stream, in collaboration with Cornell University / Cornell Lab of Ornithology The stream: https://bit.ly/2TrPDIB 🎥: DOC | Department of Conservation

Albatrosses — particularly the majestic wandering albatross — are among nature’s most extraordinary fliers, capable of gliding thousands of kilometers across the open ocean without flapping their wings for hours. Their secret lies in a technique called dynamic soaring, which allows them to harness shifting wind currents just above the ocean’s surface. By skillfully looping through layers of air moving at different speeds, they gain lift with minimal energy use — a remarkable adaptation for life