On 17 April 2020 Alan Signal found a tired and sick bird on Waikawa Beach.
It was later identified as a Mollymawk, perhaps a juvenile, and a critically endangered species.
Alan passed the bird to Hayden James of the Lower Hutt Kereru Rescue. Hayden reported:
Well that’s another first!
Picked up a Mollymawk last night, it had been found on a beach looking very unwell.
These birds are critically endangered so it’s really rare to see one of these at sea let alone on land. It was immediately collected and brought straight to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust where it will be carefully cared for and nursed back to health.
It was certainly a privilege to be able to be in the presence of such an amazing bird. A big thank you to the resident who found it and contacted us immediately for the safe collection and transportation of this bird.
And of course a huge thank you to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust team for taking it in and caring for it.
