Burt’ the penguin begins journey home

By Dean Nathan  

Sunday 16 March 2014

• Northland

Burt is an endangered animal and one of three species of crested penguin endemic to the sub-Antarctic waters off NZ. Most of his life is spent at sea and he'll only come ashore to molt and breed.

On Monday, Burt will be taken to the South Island where he'll have what is known as a soft release from a private Otago beach.

Because of the distance to his natural habitat, there isn't that much known of these birds. So the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre is astounded to have had Burt's company.

He might not fly but this has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime visit.

source

See video here