The ‘‘royal-cam’’ that made Moana the albatross an internet sensation has returned to Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony for a second season.
The webcam will be trained on the nest of a young pair, a male with a blue-black band, and a female with a red-blue-black band.
Department of Conservation ranger Lyndon Perriman said he was excited the webcam, which had about one million views last season, had returned.
‘‘Technologically it is challenging to have the cameras,’’ he said.
‘‘Every now and again we have a few hiccups.
‘‘But it has been very popular.’’
About 80 birds were nesting at the colony this season, and chicks were expected to hatch from mid-January, Mr Perriman said.
An egg laid by the royal-cam pair on November 12 was expected to hatch in late January.
Last season the camera filmed the chick, which was later named Moana, from the age of five days.
Otago Peninsula Trust marketing manager Sophie Barker said the trust was raising funds to ensure the webcam technology could continue to stream albatross action across the world.
‘‘The infrastructure is challenging and expensive, and we want to make sure we offer the best online experience we can.’’
Royal-cam fans had raised $6000 for maintenance of the webcam through the sale of calendars featuring Moana the albatross, she said.
The trust was also working with Doc to install webcams around the colony headland.
The camera would stay live until the chick left the colony in late 2017.
