An attempt to save a punctured royal albatross egg at the Taiaroa Head colony by patching it with antiseptic cream, tape and glue has failed.
Every egg laid was precious to the endangered population and Department of Conservation ranger Lyndon Perriman said although 90% of the time trying to save a punctured egg was not successful, it was worth attempting as "one of the 10 [damaged eggs] that is [successful], is another chick for the colony".
While the egg was found to be fertile and survived three weeks with its patch, it was thought pathogenic microbes probably got into the egg during the wet weather, killing the embryo, Mr Perriman said yesterday.
Small, sharp sticks hauled into the nest by parent birds were thought to be the most likely cause of the shell puncture.
It was the first egg failure this breeding season, and happened on the eve of the colony opening to the public for the summer this week.
The breeding season was looking positive with 30 nests, up on 21 the previous year, he said. Unusually, they included seven first-time breeding pairs who were only about 8 to 10 years old.
"That is significant. We only get one or two normally."
Those birds fledged about 2000 when the colony started to get higher nest rates so it was expected the high number of first-time breeders would continue, he said.
So far, all eggs which had been tested were fertile, including most of those from the first-time breeders, which was also unusual as they were less experienced at breeding.
The eggs were due to hatch in January and February, a critical period for the colony as the chicks could fall prey to fly strike and other heat-related problems.
While it was hoped to match the nearly 100% hatch rate the colony achieved last year, it was too soon to make a prediction, Mr Perriman said.
The pair who lost their egg had a dummy egg put in their nest so they could act as foster parents if needed.
