Rescue center gets and releases an albatross

A Laysan Albatross is a very large sea bird not commonly seen on the shore of Los Angeles. But on Saturday someone brought an albatross in a towel to the city's San Pedro animal shelter. The shelter sent it over to the International Bird Rescue Center, which nursed the bird back to health overnight and released it outside the breakwater at San Pedro. "Not only is it an absolutely beautiful bird, but it was a beautiful sight to watch it fly off toward the open ocean,” said technician Kelly Berry. “Overall, it was a success.”

The birds can come from Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California, or from the Hawaiian islands. Watch the release:

Photo: Paul Berry