Attempts are to be made to establish a second breeding colony of Chatham Island albatross, in the hope the species might be saved from the effects of storms.
The storms are stripping their only breeding island of vegetation, making it inhospitable to the birds.
Conservationist Mike Bell says about 30 50 day-old chicks will be moved to fake nests on the main island.
The chicks will be fed for several weeks and Mr Bell says the hope is their internal homing instinct will be reprogrammed to make them return to the new nesting site to breed.
The present site, on a rock stack called The Pyramid, is expected to be stripped of vegetation in the next few years.