Missing eagle has landed

Tuesday 14 November 2023

The male steppe eagle who went missing four days ago has now been found, and his owner says that he is "no worse for wear".

Hemlock the eagle had been taking part in a falconry display at St John’s Manor on Friday when he flew off.

Islanders had been reporting sightings to falconer Richard Hall, who has owned Hemlock for 26 years after raising the bird from the age of five months.

One such sighting proved to be positive.

A post on the Jersey Falconry Facebook page confirmed that the steppe eagle "is back safe and snug in his aviary", and "seems very pleased to be home".

Speaking to Express this morning whilst Hemlock was still missing, Mr Hall expressed his concerns that the eagle would starve to death if it is not recaptured soon.

The falconer explained that the weather hadn’t helped the prospects of successfully recapturing the bird of prey.

“It was very wet and windy this morning, and he’s probably sheltered under a hedge,” he said.

Although some islanders had expressed fear that their pets might be at risk from the eagle, which has a brown and white feathers and a 5ft (1.5m) wingspan, Mr Hall said this was extremely unlikely.

He said: “Because he has been raised to take part in falconry and other displays, he is what we would term ‘fist-bound’ and will look out for the falconers’ glove, and take food from that.

“He has never hunted, and there are ducks, chicken and geese at St John’s Manor that he has never shown any interest in – sadly I think it’s much more likely that if he isn’t found in the next four days then he will probably die from starvation."

Pictured top: Hemlock has been raised to take part in falconry displays since being acquired by Richard Hall in 1997.