Golden Eagle Recovered After Escaping Enclosure in County Antrim

A golden eagle, which had been missing for a week after escaping its enclosure in County Antrim, has been recovered following its sighting in hills near its home. The eagle, named Loki, departed on December 12 after the roof of its enclosure was detached during Storm Darragh. Owner David Trenier, who manages Hawk Walks Falconry Experiences NI in Ballyclare with his wife Jo, stated they located the bird perched on a hill behind Magheramorne Quarry, close to Larne. He conveyed that they experienced “tears of joy” upon being reunited with the eagle. Mr. Trenier informed BBC News NI that they had maintained “eyes” on the four-year-old male eagle “for a few days before approaching him.” He further recounted: “As soon as we went out with the glove on my arm, he flew straight over.” He added, “It was like he just said to himself: ‘There’s my dad’.” The couple had previously requested local residents to be vigilant for Loki after his disappearance. On Friday evening, they shared the positive update on Facebook, stating: “Guess who’s finished his little adventure!” The post continued: “Jo and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every single person for their support. All the calls, messages and offers of help has been incredible. He is in great health and form, and is resting in his mews with a big dinner.” Golden eagles were reintroduced to Ireland approximately two decades ago, having previously been driven to extinction on the island. In 2018, the first chick hatched in the wild for the first time in about 100 years. While a pair of golden eagles nested in County Antrim in the late 1950s, no nesting pairs are currently known to exist in Northern Ireland. The common buzzard, often mistaken for the golden eagle, is the most prevalent bird of prey in Northern Ireland, frequently observed in open countryside and woodlands. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.