Pet on the loose? (1)

I refer to the letter by Keith Micallef, Return Of The Birds (April 26). While acknowledging that this may have been an oversight, I am sure that the barn owl in the photo that accompanied the letter was an escaped pet.

The owl is easily recognisable as a captivity-bred specimen. Escaped birds happen very regularly and one can find all kinds of birds, including barn owls, for sale in many pet shops.

This particular specimen can cost well over €100.

Not that I encourage it, but barn owls have been domesticated and adapt well in captivity. I've witnessed them in children's hands in England, Scotland and Ireland and their behaviour is similar to that of mammals.

The son of a friend of mine had the same luck some months ago. With special thanks to Stephanie, the child's mother, here is a photo of the barn owl which ended up in his bedroom in Kappara.

As soon as they called me I told him, and others confirmed, it is next to impossible that a migratory one landed in his garden, entered his bedroom and stayed there for a photo shoot until it was caught hours later by professionals and taken away for good care.

Probably it's in someone's aviary now since it could not tend to itself in the wild.

As to the one in Mr Micallef's garden, I find it strange that the owl was drinking water, but anyhow, he should rest assured that it was no miracle.

Now while on the subject, ironically the last known breeding specimens in the Maltese islands were wiped out because their nesting place was replaced by a mass of concrete and stone in one of Mosta's valley's; a pity.

I wonder why BirdLife always blame hunters and never developers?