The first albatross chick of the season has taken to the skies and it's been captured on camera for all to see.
Bound for South America, she won't return to Aotearoa for years.
A young albatross is about to take flight for the first time. The wind is strong, she wobbles but eventually we have lift-off. And just like that the first chick of the season is all grown up.
"She's the first one to go this season, so it's kind of bitter-sweet, but it's what they're meant to do," said Department of Conservation ranger Sharyn Broni.
Known by her code, QT was about seven months old when she set off on her world trip to find the best food.
She's been livestreamed continuously at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula.
"It was captured from the Royal Cam livestream which is a collaboration between the Department of Conservation and Cornell Lab of Ornithology," said Broni.
Some footage was taken right before QT fledged - when a bird develops wing feathers large enough for flight.
"It's pretty exciting. We've never had that good a fledge caught on camera before," Broni said.
Albatross are the world's largest seabirds. They spend years feeding at sea without touching land thanks to their enormous wingspans of up to three metres.
"Maybe fly a million kilometres before she gets back to Taiaroa Head," Broni said.
QT will circumnavigate the globe until her eventual return to raise little cuties of her own.
