Kiwi Birdlife Park wildlife manager Nicole Kunzmann holds a sooty shearwater, which was given a lift home to Milford Sound from Queenstown on Monday courtesy of Milford Sound Flights pilot Grant Stewart. Photo by James Beech.
The dark-feathered, hook-billed juvenile was found in poor condition in a Fernhill backyard on Sunday by a holiday home owner, who recognised it as a species of sea bird. The bird was brought to Kiwi Birdlife Park for recovery and release.
"We are guessing that it got blown off course during the storms early last week as it was extremely hungry and dehydrated," park wildlife manager Nicole Kunzmann said.
"Best thing for a sea bird like this is to get it back out once it's fit and healthy."
Passage for the mutton bird came courtesy of Milford Sound Flights on Monday morning.
