THIS captive bird’s bolt for freedom was short-lived.
Gizmo escaped from his aviary in Acklam - but owner Ian Trafford, pictured, soon suspected f-Owl play.
As soon as he discovered his prized Eurasian Eagle Owl was missing, Ian was on the trail. His huge pet - which has a six-foot wingspan - was recovered safe and sound the very next day.
Ian, 49, of Melbreak Grove, said: “I didn’t bolt the aviary door properly and he escaped.
“I searched that night and saw him against the skyline, perched on a roof-top, but when I came back with some bait he’d flown off.�
The next morning, at first light, Ian went out again, this time with a plan to track down his treasured pet.
He drove around looking for unusually large numbers of birds, aware that if a large bird of prey like Gizmo was on the loose others would bombard him in defence.
Sure enough, he spotted more than 100 magpies, crows and seagulls swirling around a tall tree a few streets away - but no Gizmo.
“The lady of the house saw Gizmo in the tree through some binoculars and rang me back,� he said.
Ian raced round and, as onlookers watched nervously, his 21-year-old son Marc climbed up the 40-foot tree to rescue Gizmo with jesses and a large plastic bag.
Ian, who lives with his wife Chris, their three sons and two foster children, bought Gizmo when he was a three-week-old ball of white fluff.
He eats a diet of four baby chicks a day and could live to the ripe old age of 70 as a captive bird.
Gizmo is the same breed as the famous Boro Owl, who escaped his owner in Loftus and resisted capture for 18 months. Boro Owl could regularly be seen circling in the skies above Middlesbrough and became something of a local celebrity.
Ian’s love of animals has rubbed off - the family also has a Bengalese Eagle Owl, two lizards, two snakes and an African Grey parrot.
But of all the animals, Gizmo is his pride and joy.
“He’s my favourite because he’s the biggest. I’ve taken flowers and a bottle of wine to the couple who found him as a thankyou and they are coming round to see him.
“I was sure I’d see him again. There can’t be many birds of his size around, but I was surprised to get him back so soon.�
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