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Mangawhai couple host rare visitor

 

 

thumbnail 12 MF-Albatross2-841JULIA WADE

A higher flyer of the skies became an unlikely visitor in a local couple’s garden recently, the long-distance traveller appearing a little bewildered and possibly wondering where it had made the wrong turn.

On June 24 a New Zealand light-mantled sooty albatross graced the doorstep of Isabel and Brian Hollis, who discovered the seafaring bird under their lemon tree in the early morning. After ascertaining that the mysterious creature was indeed an albatross, and making a few calls to environmental services, Tara Iti conservation officer Alex Flavell-Johnson came to the rescue.

“It was agreed the bird should be checked out by the local vet, so while Brian distracted the bird, Alex threw a sheet over it and gently gathered it into a box,” Isabel says. “With the bird’s wingspan measuring 80 inches, it was lucky we had a large enough box.”

The Mangawhai garden would have been unfamiliar terrain to the albatross, who was possibly blown off course by recent wild weather from its usual homeground on the cliff edges of the Antipodes, Auckland and Campbell Islands in the Southern Ocean. Feeding mainly on squid and fish, sootys are solitary, effortless flyers, with distinctive pointed wings spanning up to 2.2 metres.

Worldwide, there are approximately 20,000 breeding pairs, with New Zealand populations accounting for 30 per cent. Sadly, however, their numbers are in decline.

After an all clear from the vet, ‘sooty’ was escorted to Te Arai with her rescuers to meet the areas ranger, Rob Channing, where a

spacious enough site was found for the bird to spread its large wings, take a run and return to the skies.

“However when we opened the box the bird just sat there, not distressed at all, so it needed a bit of tipping before it walked out,” said Isabel. “I wondered if it knew we were trying to help. I feel very privileged to have had a visit from such a beautiful creature, bit of an once-in-a-lifetime event, gave us a lot of joy.”

 

“I feel very privileged to have had a visit from such a beautiful creature.”

- Isabel Hollis

 

‘Sooty’ the Albatross found a brief safe haven in the Hollis garden after getting blown off track, returning to the skies later in the afternoon. PHOTO/ISABEL HOLLIS


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