Shy Albatross

How’s this for handsome! These magnificent big birds spend their life at sea - even to sleep and only come to land to breed.

Unfortunately this big boy has injured himself somehow (perhaps a collision with a ship or worse still a horrible encounter with a cranky fisho). He’s then been barrelled in the big sea and found himself on a beach just north of Wollongong when Australian Seabird Rescue got the call.

With the local avian vet unavailable an SOS was sent out to Lindsay of Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association (S.O.S.S.A.) who knows all there is to know about our seafaring friends. So off we went for Lindsay to check him over. He seemed waterlogged and had a bruise to the chest, so Lindsay helped me set him up for overnight care and to be taken to Taronga Zoo in the morning.

7am Lindsay was back to check him then off we went to the best facilities available – Taronga Zoo hospital.

With immediate attention at the hospital, blood was taken, wings, feet and legs checked, it appears this big boy was just exhausted with the only apparent injury the bruise on his chest. Further checks and tests will be done after he settles from the car trip.

So knowing he was in the best possible hands Leonie and I headed off on the long trip home. A great big thank you to the staff at Taronga hospital, and to Lindsay.

Mr Albatross is due to be released in a few days.

Betty