THE EAGLE has landed – much to the relief of staff at Warwick Castle.
Marvin the sea eagle escaped from the castle on Friday July 29 at around 2pm following an afternoon falconry show.
Eagle-eyed residents were called on to keep an eye out for the missing eagle and so followed a host of sightings in Stratford, Barford, Hampton Lucy and Weston-under-Wetherley near Cubbington.
Nevertheless, the castle’s falconry team were unable to recapture him, despite going out to the areas he was spotted with food to lure him in.
But finally, after a week long adventure, the 11-year-old prize bird was recovered on Friday (August 5) just before dark in a field near Hellidon.
Head Falconer Chris O’Donnell told the Observer: “Upon our arrival, Marvin flew straight over to see us shouting and calling. He landed on the glove and was pleased to see the van was already full of delicious food for the trip home.”
He added: “Nikita, Marvin’s girlfriend, has been chewing his ear off all morning. We assume he’s been told off for taking a whole week’s holiday without her.
“We are delighted and relieved to have Marvin home and safe and would like to thank everyone for sharing our posts and reporting their sightings. You were an enormous help.”
All of the castle’s birds of prey are highly trained by the expert team of falconers and have strong bonds with their handlers. It is exceptionally rare for any of the birds to fly off for long periods of time.
