Bulwer’s petrel sighting a first for KZN
SAAMBR trusts that the special visitor will make his way home somewhere in the subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
The sighting of a Bulwer’s petrel on one of KwaZulu-Natal’s beaches was a first for the province.
According to David Allan, Avian Specialist Consultant (and previous Curator of Birds at the Durban Natural Science Museum) there was apparently only one previous record of a Bulwer’s petrel and that was from the east coast of southern Africa, off Maputo.
The petrel was found stranded on the beach by Erin Geldart of Coral Divers, after the previous nights of heavy rain and wind.
Adrian Pearton kindly drove the rare visitor to Sarah Keyser, a bird rehabilitator in Durban.
According to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research, (SAAMBR), the petrel, appeared quite wind-blown and weak, was given fluids before being left to rest overnight.
“The next morning, after some well-deserved rest, Keyser brought him through to SAAMBR, where we attended to him further. He improved quickly and seemed to settle down well. He was given regular opportunities to swim and was treated with a course of antibiotics. His plumage appeared in a terrible condition. However, after consulting marine bird specialists, who assured us that this was a normal moult for this species, the decision was made to release him as soon as he was strong enough.The petrel was ringed by Garth Aiston prior to being taken 3 nautical miles offshore of Durban Harbour (courtesy of Point Yacht Club) and released,” said SAAMBR, adding that they trust that the special visitor will make his way home somewhere in the subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
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