11th
January
A
majestic bird of prey and much-loved family pet has escaped from its quiet
suburban home and won’t come back.
Comet, a
three-year-old gyr-saker falcon, flew the nest from her home in Carus Crescent
in Highwoods, Colchester, on Saturday afternoon.
Despite
spending hours walking the streets and knocking on doors, her owners,
experienced falconer Jay Poulter and his wife, Emma, have so far been unable to
find the bird.
Mrs
Poulter said: “She has not been very well over Christmas and the vets advised
us to keep her inside overnight.
“We were
getting her out of her aviary to bring her inside.
“She was
tied on my husband’s gloves by a leash, but it came lose and she flew away.
“Jay
instantly ran across the estate looking for her.
“We were
out knocking on doors from around 4.30pm until 8.30pm.
“Then
first thing on Sunday we were out again looking for her.
“She
could be anywhere and she is probably a bit disorientated because she is not
used to flying around houses and near people.”
After
seeing a Facebook post about the missing animal, several eagle-eyed neighbours
have contacted the family believing to have spotted Comet in Highwoods Country
Park.
One
resident even believes the disorientated bird may have landed on her
conservatory roof.
Sightings
have also been reported as far away as Boxted, Fingringhoe and Langham.
The
family are becoming increasingly concerned for the rare bird, who is still
recovering from her illness.
Mrs
Poulter said: “She is a part of our family in the same way as a dog is to other
people.
“My
husband has spent the last two years training her and he has put a lot of time
and love into it.
“We have
some other birds of prey, two owls and a hawk, and so she is part of a pack.
“As she
is ill she is not at her full strength and capacity which is worrying.”
A
gyr-saker falcon is a hybrid between the saker falcon, which is native to the
Middle East, and the largest type of falcon the gyr, which can be found in
North America, Europe and Asia.
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