In March, as Cyclone Alfred roared towards the south-east Queensland coast, the bayside suburbs of Brisbane were treated to a rare cold-water visitor. A shy albatross was spotted offshore, opposite a fishmonger in Sandgate. A couple of days later, what was likely to be the same bird flopped into a front yard of nearby Banyo, exhausted.
The bird was taken into care by seabird rescuers Paula and Bridgette Powers, better known as the Twinnies. “Banyo Alfred”, as they named their bird, was exhausted, emaciated and riddled with lice, as were hundreds of other birds the twins treated in the cyclone’s wake. Two months later, Alfie was well enough to be released back out to sea.
