Laysan Albatross Cam, Kauai 2016

[Kris G.]

5 nests with 3 eggs that are fertile.  Nest 4 egg is pipping

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/41/Laysan_Albatross/

[Kris G.]

Kialoa hatches!

http://youtu.be/ungC-PtEHwc

[AlisonL]

Thank you, Kris! Good to see a hatch!

Do you know why they changed locations from the one used in 2014 and 2015?

A little face peeking over the edge of the nest, a few minutes ago:

[Kris G.]

I don't know why they switched this year, Alison, but they do have new site information posted. Possibly the previous private residence didn't want cameras there anymore?

Albatrosses
In 2016, the Albatross Cam moved to a different property featuring four nests on camera (two fertile, two infertile), and a fifth just out of view. All of the birds were given names by a Hawaiian kumu, or teacher (Learn more about their names.). It’s very difficult to tell adults apart by sight unless you can glimpse their band numbers. Laysan Albatrosses are large seabirds, though they are small compared to other albatrosses. They measure about 2.5 feet long and can weigh 10 pounds. Their wingspan is about 7 feet.
The parents of the central fertile nest featured in front of the cam under the ironwood tree are male Manawanui (KP796) and unbanded female Moana; they laid their egg on November 28, 2015. The parents on the upper nest to the right of Manawanui and Moana are female Mokihana (unbanded) and male Ikaika (KP194), and their egg was laid November 26. There is another fertile nest just out of site of the camera, downslope; the egg laid on December 3 is tended by parents male Ka`imi (KP688) and female Lilinoe (KP093).
There are also two infertile nests being tended by two female-female pairs: Pilialoha (K097) and Mahealani (KP672) are at the lower nest (beneath Mokihana and Ikaika); and Lawakua and Kiwahiwa are at the nest to the left of Manuwanui and Moana’s nest, near the driveway.
Last year’s on-camera parents continue to nest at the property that formerly hosted the cam from 2014-2015. We will update about these pairs over social media as we learn more about their nesting efforts from the Kauai Albatross Network.
Albatrosses lay only one egg per year at most. Incubation takes about 64 days. The two parents take turns incubating the egg, with the male taking the first shift. Incubation shifts can last several weeks, and the incubating bird fasts during that time. After hatching, the parents go on long foraging trips during which they may travel 1,600 miles and stay away for up to 17 days. The chick takes about 5.5 months to grow to adult size and take to the air. Once in flight, these young birds will not touch land again for 3–5 years.
About the Nest
These Laysan Albatross nests are on the property of a private residence on the north shore of Kauai, near the town of Kilauea, Hawaii. The nest is a neat bowl of dry ironwood needles and other vegetation, placed directly on the ground. Ornamental shrubs and palms help shade the nest from the tropical sun. A neat lawn leads away from the nests to a steep bluff over the Pacific Ocean, providing an excellent runway for the adults and, eventually, the chick, to take off.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the landowners, who wish to remain anonymous, for allowing us access to this nest and to the property manager for helping to maintain the camera during the season. We are also grateful for the help of the Kauai Albatross Network for finding this albatross nest.
More questions about the albatrosses? Check our Albatross Cam FAQ page.