Southampton Hospital hawk found after GPS tracker failed

Freddie's bell and leather leg strap marked him out from a wild bird, his keeper said

A hawk used by a hospital to control the pigeon population, which went missing after its tracker device failed, has been found.

Southampton Hospital use Freddie the Harris's hawk to keep the bird numbers down around its campus as they can present a health hazard to patients.

But he did not return to his keeper's home in Fareham, Hampshire "after work" on Thursday.

The bird was spotted by a family near a sports centre.

Falconer and keeper Andy Crowle said the jesses, the thin strap used to tether a bird of prey, and bell were " a big giveaway that he wasn't a wild bird".

"He was spotted in a tree after crows were seen mobbing him, I believe his bell also gave his position away. He was close to the footpath so easy to spot."

Rachel King and her children had found the hawk at the municipal sports centre on Dunkirk Road in the city.

Mr Crowle said he was "very relieved" to have the four-year-old bird back after the GPS system had malfunctioned.

The owner of Urban Wings Falconry service said earlier he had hoped the hawk would return to the hospital because it was "such a big site".

Southampton Hospital uses the bird of prey to control pigeon numbers which can be a health hazard to patients

It was not the first time Freddie had gone missing, having flown off for a couple of days six months ago.

Mr Crowle said a GPS tracker normally meant he could locate the bird but after it failed he was concerned because "he could be anywhere".

He added that pigeons were a danger to patients as their droppings can cause pneumonia.

He said birds of prey are regularly used by Bournemouth Hospital to control bird numbers at its campus and by Southampton City Council and Red Funnel, which runs the Isle of Wight ferry service.