One of the 'storm-blown' birds taken care of by Massey University vets. Photo: SUPPLIED
Some seabirds are so sick and tired of this winter's foul stormy conditions, they've literally hit the ground and not being able to get back up again.
About half a dozen of the 'storm-blown' birds, including an albatross and petrel, have ended up at Massey University's wildbase hospital.
They were found exhausted and beached across the Manawatu-Whanganui region and unable to continue on their journeys.
Massey's senior vet Dr Megan Jolly said the birds were weak and exhausted after being blown around at sea.
Massey University senior vet Dr Megan Jolly Photo: SUPPLIED
"In the case for the really big guys it's actually really hard for them to get airborne again from when they land in the middle of the North Island.
"One theory is they're usually going over the North Island and if they fly a little bit lower than they usually do and they come across a mountain they just go down and can't get back up again," she told Checkpoint.
Some had pre-existing conditions, including a "belly full of plastic".
"When they're a bit weakened by that, the storm is just too much for them."
Late last year an albatross landed in the middle of a field of dairy cows, Jolly said.
"The farmer knew something was up because he could see the cows looking at something. I think he was a bit surprised to find an albatross in the middle of his field."
Some have been wounded and needed stitches while others needed time to recover and to be nursed back to good health.
Once better, Jolly and other vets accompany the birds on coastguard boats out to sea, where they are released.
Asked what the public should do if they find a 'storm-blown' bird, Jolly said to call the Department of Conservation for advice.
