Northern Royal Albatross Chick Practices Hovering Before His First Flight

 The Cornell Lab Bird Cams shared heartwarming footage of Awheo, a northern royal albatross chick, practicing his hovering skills so that he can be strong enough to eventually fly away. This practice, along with the strong winds, helps him build muscle through resistance training.

The Northern Royal Albatross chick takes advantage of the strong winds blowing through Pukekura/Taiaroa Head to build up its flight muscles with some resistance training and practice short bursts of hovering.

Awheo Also Practiced a Bit of Wing Flapping.

Awheo’s Growth in 2026

Awheo Being Weighed as a Tiny Chick