Bells far and wide celebrate return of albatross

Valla Wilkinson (10) of St Leonards School, leads her classmates in a peal of ringing bells.

Schools and churches in Dunedin and beyond yesterday continued the tradition of ringing bells to mark the arrival of the season's first albatross.

An 8-year-old male, identified by his lime, red and yellow tags, was the season's first arrival when he landed at the Taiaroa Head colony on Sunday.

Last year, 164 birds returned and another big season was expected.

The fire crew at Dunedin Airport let rip with sirens, lights and hoses to mark the occasion.