A beachgoer recognised this bird was in trouble and jumped to action protecting it from numerous dogs nearby. 

This Good Samaritan waited until the FAWNA rescuer arrived and together they managed to catch the bird. It was unable to fly but was pretty fast on its feet. 

Being a busy holiday time on the beach this most unusual bird and its rescuers generated much interest from bystanders.

The starving, dehydrated and exhausted bird in need of help was transported to FAWNA’s seabird co-ordinator, June. 

Weighing in at 3.5kg and being all over dark in colour, this immature bird was identified as a Southern Giant Petrel, probably six to seven years old. An adult would have mottled head feathering and ashy-grey neck feathers. 

Giant Petrels are distinguished from albatrosses by their unusual tube-nosed bill and hunchback appearance. The Southern Giant-Petrel has a different bill-tip colour from the Northern Giant Petrel.  Of the two Giant Petrel species, one breeds and feeds on the northern part of the Antarctic Convergence and the other on the south.

Being easier to refer to this unusual visitor by a name, he was called Dodo for his hopefully short time in care. 

Initially Dodo was difficult to feed but soon learned the game and enjoyed catching his food. Dodo fed on 700g of food daily with fresh sardines for breakfast, mullet offal for lunch and fresh whole mullet pieces mid-afternoon. 

After seven days Dodo became verbal, flapping his wings - near time to go home to the oceans. 

The kind folk at Fisheries NSW agreed they would take Dodo out to sea on December 12. 

Placed in a large, safe, specially set up cardboard carton for his early morning start, he was successfully released by Fisheries NSW officers in the Cod Grounds Marine Park east from Laurieton, not far from where he was found needing help 10 days before. It was reported Dodo looked very much at home bathing and drinking in the ocean water.

The Fisheries crew returned later that day and were pleased to report Dodo had disappeared – FAWNA hopes continuing his journey south back to his natural breeding and feeding grounds in the Antarctic.

FAWNA said it appreciated Fisheries NSW help, and thanked Port Fresh Seafoods who provided fresh mullet offal daily. It was a collaborative effort to help this pelagic bird.

June LePla, FAWNA’s seabird coordinator said: “In 30 years of operations, rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured, sick and orphaned wildlife, FAWNA has had three Southern Giant Petrels come into the system. One died, one was euthanased due to significant unfixable injuries and the third, Dodo, has been a big learning curve and an absolutely delightful patient. It’s a privilege to be able to help this rare visitor to our shores.”