Daniel the albatross, who crash-landed on Ninety Mile Beach last week, spread his wings before being released back into the wild off the Tutukaka coast yesterday.
Daniel, a wandering albatross, was found on Ninety Mile Beach by ambulance officer Daniel Leef and his father Shane Leef, a fisheries officerfor the Ministry for Primary Industries.
He was taken to the Whangarei Bird Recovery Centre, where he was rested and fed before being released into the wild yesterday off a Dive! Tutukaka boat.
He was released at Fraser's Landing around 10am. He chilled in the area for two hours before flying away.