An eagle owl seen flying high over the streets of Dundee this year has been given a fresh start at a new home.
Rossi, as he was nicknamed, has been relocated ”many miles away” according to a Fife falconry centre, which took the bird in after it was caught in January.
The eagle owl, which was seen on buildings and in gardens in the Kirkton area of the city, is said to be settling well at his new home having caught the imagination of residents on his visit to Dundee.
Barry Blyther, head falconer at Elite Falconry near Cluny, was a member of the team that helped to rehome the raptor, despite efforts to trace its original owner.
He said: ”The bird has now been rehomed. I can’t say exactly where he is now, but he is many miles away.
”When Rossi arrived we went through the Independent Bird Register (IBR), which is used to trace owners if a bird is found.
”This didn’t show up anything as Rossi was not chipped or wearing a closed identification ring. We are not a bird sanctuary and so we couldn’t take him in, but we did do our bit to get him rehomed.”
Mr Blyther believes there is a strong likelihood Rossi either escaped from, or had been abandoned by, his previous owner before he landed in Dundee.
Rules regarding birds of prey mean that any previous owner no longer has a legal claim on Rossi, but to protect him from possible theft it is not possible to disclose the exact location of his new home.
The Courier was contacted by numerous readers in January after his hooting and swooping caught the attention of residents.
He was eventually trapped by staff at Elite Falconry after concerns were raised over Rossi’s long-term survival prospects in a city environment.
Mr Blyther added: ”I understand he was quite a character in Dundee. We’re not really open to the public, but we did get a few phone calls from people wondering if they could meet Rossi. From what I have heard he is doing well in his new home.”