WATCH: 'Flybe' proves a reluctant flyer

Wednesday 10 June 2020

The twelfth time seems to have worked a charm as a misbehaving cormorant named Flybe finally consented to take to the skies again after months of rehab at the GSPCA.

The wildlife charity was called to rescue the bird from Church Square in mid-March, where he was found to be very thin, unable to fly and attempting to enter shops and other nearby buildings.

After a week of care and feeding at the shelter, he was taken to a release spot near the Bathing Pools where it was believed he would return to his fellow cormorants. 

However Flybe, as the bird was named by staff, had other ideas. Upon being released he returned to Town in order to pick up an old habit of his - pestering people.

In total, the GSPCA tried releasing Flybe a total of 11 times from quiet spots around the island, however he always seemed to find his way back inland as an unexpected patron for pubs and bars, and as a surprise house guest for a bemused homeowner when he found his way into the property through a cat flap. 

“In all my years at the GSPCA we have never had a bird quite like Flybe," said GSPCA Animal Care Assistant Beckie Bailey. 

“When he was found he was very thin and couldn’t fly very well. Every time he was released he was found getting into mischief such as trying to get into Specsavers or L’Eree Hotel.”

Pictured: Flybe took the tagline "Should have gone to Specsavers" a little too seriously.

“We even tried releasing him all the way on the Humps and six days later he tried popping into the Cock and Bull.”

At this point it was decided to give him a much longer period of rehabilitation, which he spent on the large pond at the GSPCA. Last week it was decided to go for a location as remote as staff could find for his release, so he was transported to Alderney where they had just the spot. 

“Thankfully after months of care we decided that the best release spot would be where there should be plenty of friends for him and Alderney Wildlife Trust kindly offered to help. It was fantastic to see him being released off Burhou thanks to the video they filmed.”

"We just hope that where he is now he will be happy and he doesn't return to us for a 12th time."

Pictured: Flybe's release video was posted on the GSPCA's Facebook page.

Now that Flybe is back among his own species, GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne hoped he would start to think more like a bird again and less like a human.

“Despite all the social distancing rule, Flybe the cormorant really didn’t want to pay any attention to them as he has tried enter shops, pubs, hotels and even a cat flap in our attempts in getting him back to the wild and his stubborn efforts of not wanting to go.”

“A huge thanks must go to Alderney Wildlife Trust for their help last week in releasing this very naughty bird and we are hoping that now that he is amongst many of his own species he will think more like a cormorant and less like he wants to be human.”

Pictured: Flybe the Cormorant.