Bird of prey stolen from home aviary in Bishopstoke

The missing hawk The missing hawk

THIEVES have stolen a bird of prey from a home in Bishopstoke .

The two-year-old Harris hawk was taken from an aviary in Guest Road.

Neighbours spotted two men breaking into the garden, before a group of four walked away from the home.

Owner Ryan Morgan, 21, says the bird, known as The Gir, has plumage that is nearly black on her front, brown feathers on her wings and is wearing a blue identification ring.

He says he wants to warn other bird owners about potential thefts He said: “I have had her since she was 14 weeks old – it’s awful.

“She cost me £300 but then you have to add on the hours I have spent feeding her, training her – the dedication and work that has gone into looking after her.

“She was born in captivity and I still have all the paperwork – nobody should be buying a bird without paperwork.

“If there’s any information that leads to her safe return then there will be a reward “I just want to warn other owners. I didn’t think I was building an aviary to stop thieves, we thought it was to keep her in and keep her safe.”

The theft happened at around 1.30am on Wednesday, August 8.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh police on 101.

Comments(13)

freefinker says...
10:53am Mon 20 Aug 12

.. birds don't belong in aviaries = prisons

bigfella777 says...
11:19am Mon 20 Aug 12

Maybe someone has set the poor thing free, it should be in the wild not cooped up like that.Cruel man.

SaffaInTheUk says...
11:48am Mon 20 Aug 12

How dreadful. I hope she's found alive and well, and reunited with her dad.

As for the the people who call the man cruel, do you personally know this man? or do you think this beautiful bird is kept in a hamster cage? Keep rude comments to yourself.

hulla baloo says...
11:59am Mon 20 Aug 12

bigfella777 wrote:
Maybe someone has set the poor thing free, it should be in the wild not cooped up like that.Cruel man.
Given that it was captive bred and used to humans, there is a good chance that it may not survive in the wild.

bigfella777 says...
12:47pm Mon 20 Aug 12

hulla baloo wrote:
bigfella777 wrote:
Maybe someone has set the poor thing free, it should be in the wild not cooped up like that.Cruel man.
Given that it was captive bred and used to humans, there is a good chance that it may not survive in the wild.
Of course it will,birds do have brains you know unlike some people on here.

southy says...
1:38pm Mon 20 Aug 12

hulla baloo wrote:
bigfella777 wrote:
Maybe someone has set the poor thing free, it should be in the wild not cooped up like that.Cruel man.
Given that it was captive bred and used to humans, there is a good chance that it may not survive in the wild.
Being a Bird of Prey, it would have a very good chance surviving in the wild. the only things it would problems over is other birds flocking it mainly seagulls, crows ect and wondering onto another birds hunting patch.

bazzeroz says...
2:21pm Mon 20 Aug 12

Hopefully it will survive and kill off a few filthy pigeons as food.

espanuel says...
2:28pm Mon 20 Aug 12

If you understood birds and how they survive being brought up NOT in captivity but in an aviary and brought from babies then there would be no need for your silly comments. (hulla baloo & bigfell777)
GET A LIFE. Dont preach what you dont know about. The old addage I have learnt everything but know F88k ALL.

bigfella777 says...
2:36pm Mon 20 Aug 12

espanuel wrote:
If you understood birds and how they survive being brought up NOT in captivity but in an aviary and brought from babies then there would be no need for your silly comments. (hulla baloo & bigfell777)
GET A LIFE. Dont preach what you dont know about. The old addage I have learnt everything but know F88k ALL.
I think you will find its "adage" and "learned". you are obviously not so bright yourself.

Ginger_cyclist says...
9:20pm Mon 20 Aug 12

An animal that has been hand reared from birth or from an egg has less than half the chances of survival in the wild than a wild animal as it has been around humans too long and only really knows what it's owner wants it to know, in some cases instinct does win but it can take up to several weeks in which time the animal could have died, I hope the thieves are caught soon and that this beautiful bird is returned to her rightful guardian.

happy days 2 says...
8:30pm Tue 21 Aug 12

interesting thoughts harris hawks are not indigenous to england so should not be released in the wild also they do not think like a human and our happy in captivity as long as they kept by someone who nows what their doing remember these birds are flown free every day why would they return to you whe they have the option not to

luci1980 says...
2:47pm Wed 29 Aug 12

It just goes to show the ignorance of some unintellectual individuals on here. Birds of prey are happy in captivity and as long as they are KEPT CORRECTLY by a caring and considerate owner like my brother whos bird was stolen.
People who feel they have the right to steal from a RESPONSIBLE bird owner should be locked up and the key thrown away!! WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE STEALING SOMEONE ELSES PROPERTY! THIEVES ARE DISGUSTING AND VILE INDIVIDUIALS WHO SHALL GET THERE COME BACK ONE DAY IN LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

happy days 2 says...
8:48am Sun 9 Sep 12

ryan hope you have your harris back and looking forward to a good season

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