BIRDS, WEARY FROM TRAVELLING LONG DISTANCES
over vast expanses of ocean, are now able to
pull up a perch for some respite onboard
Pacific Dawn, thanks to the vessel’s
environmental officer (aptly named) Robin
Cooke.
The new seabird refuge was set up in
response to demand from visiting
(exhausted) petrels and shearwaters.
“Just taking the birds up on deck to let
them go wasn’t working well and I didn’t feel
good watching them ‘run’ to a corner to try
to rest in the windy and sometimes rainy
conditions,” said Cooke.
“One night the idea just came to me – I
approached the Chief Engineer the next day
at the morning meeting onboard.
“After hearing the story, my colleagues felt
the same way as I did,” he added.
To create the shelter, Cooke and colleagues
crafted ‘cabins’ out of a crate for the birds
where they can rest until they are strong
enough to fly.
According to
P&O, the shelter
is in use around
once a week.
“Passengers
love it and keep
an eye out for
‘bird incident’
reports,” the
cruise line said. Cooke
