A hand-reared rook who'd been with the same foster family since he was a chick suddenly disappeared as his owners prepared to announce their engagement. Joe Greenwood had nursed the ailing bird named Fagin back to health after finding him three years ago, during which time he'd become tame enough to perch on the sofa and watch TV with his human keeper.
However, as Joe was about to pop the question to his partner Jessica, Fagin vanished - the pair joking that he'd taken flight in a fit of jealousy. "Fagin has always been quite territorial and can get a bit jealous, said Joe, 29, from Prestatyn.
"If I put an arm around Jess he’ll give me a peck. And if she hugs me when I get home from work, she also might get a peck from him."
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In reality though it was being accidentally startled by a woman in a mobility scooter which had caused the feathered fugitive to vamoose, leaving Joe and Jess worried sick - reports NorthWales Live.
Convinced he wouldn't survive in the wild they sparked a frantic search for him on social media, one which saw their entire Denbighshire community get involved. "We kept saying he went off in a huff because he was jealous his dad proposed to me," said Jessica.
"None of us really slept after that though and we were out at the crack of dawn each day looking for him." Meanwhile, her other half spent the next several days scouring the neighbourhood in the hope Fagin would be found.
"We always said that if Fagin ever went into the wild, he’d never survive," said Joe, who's currently establishing an injured bird rehabilitation service in his area called Helping Hand Corvid Rescue. "He’s a bit daft really and will happily walk up to a dog not knowing the danger.
“I even took time off work and each morning I would go out with a tub of waxworms. They’re his favourite - he’ll do anything for a waxworm.
"For four days I wandered around shouting 'Fagin!' at random birds – I probably didn’t come across as the sanest of people." Luckily, however, Fagin was eventually spotted safe and well a quarter of a mile from home.
"I was on Morfa football field on Sunday (August 21) when I got the call to say he’d been found, eating figs in someone's garden. I was overwhelmed – I don't think I’ve ever run so fast to reach the car."
And now the pair are hoping Fagin might put his possessiveness behind him in order to play a part in their upcoming wedding plans. "I said it would be great if Fagin could carry the ring," said Joe.
"But Jess said, 'No way, he’ll probably disappear with the ring." To find out more about Helping Hand Corvid Rescue click here.
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