We have shared her story before, but we are making our Laysan Albatross the Patient of the Week so everyone can get updated about her progress and outcome. She arrived on 5/4/16, when she was discovered on a ship stuck between some cargo containers. After making the long journey over from Hawaii to Seattle, she was thin and dehydrated. Over the past few weeks, we have had some complications with coordinating her eventual release.
Due to concerns over importing her back into Hawaii (potential exposure to diseases such as West Nile Virus on the mainland), we have had to explore other options. We are very grateful to the IBRRC (International Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center) in California for agreeing to take her. They will finish up final conditioning care for release off their coastline.
Within 3 to 4 weeks, all the Laysan Albatrosses will be departing Hawaii to fly over the North Pacific to feed - from Japan to Alaska. These birds make long journeys and we are confident she knows where she needs to go, and can find her way.