ALBATROSS SANCTUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24771, 22 November 1941, Page 8

ALBATROSS SANCTUARY

VISIT BY POLISH CONSULGENERAL HIS, SECOND “ REAL THRILL'’ Snatching a few free moments from his official duties while making a tour of inspection of a Dunedin fortress area yesterday, the Polish Consulgeneral in New Zealand, Count K. A. Wodzicki, a Nature lover, paid a visit to the home of Otago’s now renowned albatross family. He saw the five great birds in their natural habitat, and expressed his delight at being able to approach so closely in order to study them carefully. “ I have had two real thrills in my life,” Count Wodzicki jokingly remarked. “ The first was when I came to close quarters with Hitler in 1935. It was a thrill at the time, but Hitler represents everything that is the antithesis of freedom. To-day I have experienced an even greater thrill, for 1 have been brought to close quarters —much closer than I expected—with the albatross, which represents the very epitome of freedom. The Count carried with him a pair of field glasses, which he said he proposed to use to gel a good glimpse of the birds. They were not required, however, because he was escorted to within a few yards of where the birds are nesting. They made no move to fly away, but proudly stood or sat to be admired by the party of visitors. They even exhibited the contents of their nests, revealing the presence of eggs that may one day soon produce fine additions to the albatross family. Before the war the sanctuary was fenced off to prevent the public from disturbing the birds and ruining or taking their eggs. Since the outbreak of war. however, the birds have had the additional protection of the army, and they are now thriving unmolested by anyone.