An albatross needing treatment after being blown off course during Cyclone Vaianu was released off Hawke's Bay on Thursday.
Coastguard Hawke’s Bay’s missions usually involve helping the stricken out of the ocean – not putting them back.
But it was reverse-thrust on Thursday afternoon as rescue craft the Celia Knowles was used to return to sea a juvenile albatross (toroa) blown off-course in the mid-April cyclone.
The youngmale had been a patient at Massey University wildlife hospital Wildbase after being found in a paddock in the South Wairarapa coastal area of Pirinoa.
Wildbase has arrangements with coastguards operating out of Napier and Foxton to release birds east or west, depending on the conditions and the likely flight plan of the avian.
Wildbase manager Associate Professor Megan Jolly described the bird as “he”, following mariner traditions which prevent it being named, to avoid bad luck.
“He” appeared a little hesitant on release to the water about two nautical miles out of Napier, a trite camera-shy and not hanging around for photos before taking flight.
He’s expected to now be hundreds of kilometres across the ocean, heading towards South America, Jolly said.
Over the sore feet and ready to fly - the young albatross found in a paddock on the South Wairarapa coast, in hospital and ready for Thursday afternoon's return to the sea from Coastguard Hawke's Bay rescue craft Celia Knowles.
“He should be well east,” she said. “They circumnavigate the bottom of the globe.”
The Celia Knowles’ crew also released two albatross and five petrels two months ago, after a storm in February.
Early last year a Salvin’s albatross was released by the coastguard, having recovered at Wildbase after being found at Mahia.
Jolly said the latest patient had been admitted with “a little bit of bruising to his feet”.
Freedom for the albatross with no name.
“They are not designed for use on land,” she said.
Doug Laing has 53 years’ experience as a reporter, and has been based in Napier since joining the Daily Telegraph in 1987, including the merger that created Hawke’s Bay Today in 1999.
