Hunt is on for missing precious falcon

For the past two years Lawrence Formosa has been taking his falcon to Buskett three times a week to allow it to spread its wings. Last Sunday was no different, but this time Chuki did not fly back to his leathered arm as she had done so many times before.

The last signal from her transmitter placed her somewhere near the Malta Drydocks, where she probably went because of the high cranes.

Hoping she was still alive, Mr Formosa said: "A falcon is not a pet... So, whoever found her must be made aware that her health will deteriorate if she is not looked after properly."

Mr Formosa inherited his passion for birds from his family and was always fascinated with birds of prey.

Today he has three bard owls, a Bengal eagle owl and three Harris hawks. Some he keeps to breed, while others he trains to fly and hunt. He has owned Chuki, a hybrid between a Maltese and Saker falcon, since August 2006 and had been training her to hunt for pheasant.

"There's nothing nicer than seeing a bird fly. Then, when they come back to you, you feel the bond. It's an amazing feeling," he muses.

Mr Formosa suspects that Chuki - who gets her name from the sound made by falcons - distanced herself from the usual territory she was accustomed to when she spotted honey buzzards last Sunday.

He explained that it was not uncommon for a bird to fail to return to its trainer.

However, what was strange was that there was no longer any signal emitted from her transmitter. Last Sunday, the transmitter had placed her in Ta Qali, Marsa, Paola and finally at the Dockyard.

"I feel like a part of me is gone... I'm constantly thinking about it," he said.

Chuki can be distinguished by a red ribbon and a transmitter worn around her claw. Anyone who has information about her can contact Mr Formosa on 9990 6804 or e-mail him on lawfor@onvol.net.