LIVE MUTTON BIRD AT HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 23819, 17 May 1939, Page 4

LIVE MUTTON BIRD AT HOSPITAL

BLOWN INLAND DURING STORM A live mutton bird was found in the ambulance right-of-way at the Southland Hospital, Kew, yesterday morning by a member of the hospital staff. Several attempts were made to get the bird to take wing and fly away, but after one or two strokes of the wings it collapsed back to earth. It was then forwarded to the Southland Museum, it being obvious that the bird could not survive. Apparently the bird was blown inland during the recent storm and, perhaps attracted by the hcspital lights, fell and was hurt. At this time of the year many seabirds are forced away from their usual habitat and members of the petrel family, to which the mutton birds belong are unable to take wing again if forced down, for all the members of this group have practically lost the use of their legs for running and even walking. They require water to take off and, failing this, must precipitate themselves off a cliff or against a heavy wind.

Although mutton birds are not protected, most other sea-birds are, and in the case of gale-stranded birds every effort should be made by the finder to restore them to their native element. If, however, the birds aer unable to take flight through injury, they should be sent to the Southland Museum, where they will be gratefully accepted.