Seabirds blown off course to land in Toowoomba region
WILDLIFE carer Trish LeeHong is housing a flock of seabirds which have dropped out of the sky over the Toowoomba region.
The exhausted animals have been collected by concerned residents after being blown a long way west of their normal habitat by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald at the weekend.
Sooty terns, white-tailed tropic birds, wedge-tailed shearwaters and a rare species of petrel have been among the birds brought to Ms LeeHong's Murphys Ck home.
"It was very unusual to have a run of seabirds come in," Ms LeeHong said.
"They are literally dropping out of the sky out here from exhaustion and starvation."
The influx of animals has stretched resources at her not-for profit Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Education Association.
"Because they are inundated on the coast, it will be a matter of housing them until they are ready to fly."
Toowoomba Bird Observers president Michael Atzeni wanted to catalogue the species of seabirds, whether they were alive or dead, which had blown into the Toowoomba region.
To report a seabird call Ms LeeHong on 4630 5208 or Mr Atzeni 0458 948 955.
