Appeal to track eagle after it 'goes for a wander'

The owner of an eagle which disappeared from a country show is calling for public help to track down the bird after it was spotted in a garden.

Cillian, the Chilean blue eagle, has been missing from Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre in Horsham, West Sussex, after flying off from the Cowpie Country Show in Lingfield, Surrey, on Sunday.

Luke Lloyd, the owner of Huxley's, said that despite Cillian having "gone for a wander", he hoped the bird would still be in the area.

"He won't look like your typical bird in your garden," he said.

Lloyd added: "The public are fantastic and have really helped us out in the past.

"He's a fantastic little bird. This doesn't happen too often, but it's a risk that we take because you are giving them free choice."

Chilean blue eagles, also known as a black-chested buzzard-eagle, is indigenous to large, open areas of South America.

The birds can have a wingspan of between 149cm and 200cm, with males averaging about 2kg.

Cillian, who the centre estimates has a 5ft (152cm) wingspan, has been at the centre for three or four years, Lloyd said, having been sent to them by another centre in the UK.

Despite roaming the Lingfield area, Cillian would be unlikely to hunt for himself, he added.

Andy Grigg, manager of Huxley's, said that the bird of prey was unlikely to have left the Lingfield area despite having flown off.

A sighting of the bird was reported on Monday afternoon but had flown away before representatives of the centre could arrive.

If anyone spots the eagle, Lloyd urged the public to contact the centre, providing a photograph where possible.

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