It may not have been the most graceful of exits, but a visiting royal southern albatross has finally left Northland.
The exhausted southern royal albatross - nicknamed Royal Albert - had been recuperating at the Northpower Bird Recovery Centre in Maunu, Whangarei, after being battered by heavy winds off Northland's west
coast on Christmas Eve.
On Saturday centre manager Robert Webb and the volunteers at the Tutukaka Coastguard took Royal Albert out to sea to help him get airborne so he could return to his home - believed to be the Auckland Islands.
Mr Webb held Royal Albert in the air on the bow of the coastguard boat while it sped through the water in the hope that the bird would catch a breeze and soar into the air.
Instead the giant bird - weighing more than 9kg and with a 3m wingspan - flopped clumsily straight into the water and swam on the surface for a while.
Mr Webb said Royal Albert finally flew off on Saturday afternoon after spending some time preening himself and applying oil from his glands ready for the right wind conditions for takeoff.
"There wasn't enough wind for him to take off on Saturday (morning) but he got away in the afternoon," he said.
"He had been a very popular visitor, with hundreds of people coming to have a look at him.
"That's been one of the best things about this.
"The public has had the chance to see such a magnificent bird close up.
"I hope this will raise awareness about albatrosses and other sea birds."
Tutukaka Coastguard senior crewman Colin Brickell said helping with the release of Royal Albert was one of the more unusual jobs for the coastguard.
"We volunteered to help because it's a neat environmental thing to do," Mr Brickell said.
"We don't just rescue people as a coastguard.
"We are interested in all things happening on the water.
"Although our main job is saving lives we are often called upon to do other things."
Mr Webb said Royal Albert seemed to appreciate all the help and attention he had received while at the centre, especially the case of pilchards he chomped his way through every day.
It was only the second royal albatross at the bird recovery centre in its 16 years.
