The toroa is a majestic bird with a large wingspan and distinct colouration. It spends most of its life flying over and floating on the ocean surface. It mates for life and can live for over 60 years. Most of the toroa species1 are vulnerable to environmental ocean and breeding habitat2 changes.
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In 2024, the Science Learning Hub is backing the mighty toroa, the albatross, for Bird of the Year.
Nearly half of the world’s 22 species of albatross can be found in Aotearoa3. That’s the most in the world, and many don’t breed anywhere else.
Toroa fly nearly 1000 Ks per day. They have speedometers in their beaks and lockable wings that let them conserve energy and even sleep while airborne for days or weeks.
The far-flying birds take their te reo Māori name from Toroa, the rangatira who captained in the waka Mataatua from Hawaiki. Many wear te raukura, the albatross plume, as a token of peace.
Today, toroa have a sanctuary at Taiaroa Head in Dunedin, but their habits and habitats4 are threatened by climate change5 and ocean pollution.
Vote for toroa as Bird of the Year to recognise our largest bird’s massive importance to seafaring peoples across the world.
Acknowledgements
Wandering albatross, Ed Dunens. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
Albatross hovering over tussock hillside, colony with pairs, and close ups from Royal Albatross by the New Zealand National Film Unit
Albatross spreading wings by LifeTheatre, and albatross soaring over ocean by Pascal Vagner. Both licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
Parihaka, looking seaward, Taranaki, New Zealand, c. 1880, Burton Brothers, photographic print from the C. A. Ewen collection, State Library of New South Wales, DL PX 150
Ocean pollution from The Ocean Cleanup Mission of Great Pacific garbage patch by Exploration Earth. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
Music: Street at Night (short version) by AudioCoffee, Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution Noncommercial
