Unexpected visitor: Cat appears on Dunedin albatross nest camera
A cat has paid an unexpected visit to a nest at Dunedin’s northern royal albatross colony.
The black cat was spotted about midday yesterday on a Department of Conservation (DoC) camera at the Taiaroa Head nature reserve.
The camera captures a 24-hour livestream of a northern royal albatross (toroa) nest during the breeding season.
The cat and the albatross make brief eye contact in passing.
Footage shows the cat approaching up the hill to the vicinity of the albatross nest at the top.
While the albatross can be seen squawking as the feline approaches, the pair only briefly acknowledge each other before the cat continues its journey.
Jim Watts, Doc’s principal ranger for biodiversity, heritage and visitors, said Pukekura/Taiaroa Head was not predator-free and seeing a cat in the reserve was “not uncommon”.
“Cats are always a concern for native species as they are unregulated and skilful predators,” Watts said.
“At this time of year, the toroa chicks are all above 6.5kg, and the risk is low for these birds.”
The pair only briefly acknowledge each other before the feline continues up the hill.
However, he said, many other native species that call Pukekura home, including tarāpunga (red-billed gull), tītī, kororā (blue penguin), matapo (Otago shag) and native skinks, were at a greater risk from cats.
“There is an extensive predator trapping network in place at Pukekura, both in the nature reserve and extending on to neighbouring land to create a buffer,” Watts said.
“This network targets cats, stoats, ferrets, and rats.
He said the cat might have recently moved into the area, or might be “trap-shy” and not interacting with the traps in place.
Since the start of the year, 13 cats have been caught in the trapping network at Pukekura.
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