“The whole recovery went better than we anticipated, and we’re really pleased to send this one back where it belongs.” Two drivers discovered the petrel across the road from a Ritchies Transport depot, in a paddock beside a Washdyke truck stop. One of the men filled a container with water and sat with the petrel for an hour-and-a-half – until a ranger from the Department of Conservation's Geraldine office arrived to take over, caring for the bird overnight and organising transport to Dunedin the following day. The ill fledgling was taken into intensive care upon arrival at the wildlife hospital, Whyte said.