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Update 25th June 2009 - The sad news has just reached me that the European eagle owl that had survived in Bristol’s city centre for at least 3 years has died.

Ed Drewitt of Bristol Museum confirmed rumours that the bird was found dying at the foot of windows of the Engineering Building on 20th May, close to it’s popular roost site, and died before the RSPCA arrived.

It is possible that the bird reacted to it’s own reflection and flew at the windows, fatally injuring itself, or indeed may have eaten a rat that had been poisoned. Unfortunately the body had been disposed of quickly, so we shall never know - almost as big a mystery as where the bird came from in the first place.

News of it’s death was kept secret for a few weeks while the reports were verified.

It is impossible to know if this bird was an escaped ‘pet’ or was indeed a young wild bird that has found its way into the city. Eagle owls are known to breed in small numbers in the UK, so dispersing youngsters can, in theory, turn up anywhere. However, the centre of Bristol is the most unlikely place and it’s a matter of opinion where the bird came from.

Reports were that the owl has been observed eating rats and a possible sparrowhawk, but no doubt it has also taken squirrels, birds and possibly even the odd cat!!

The bird had been regularly seen in and around a sycamore tree, which could be viewed from a flight of steps opposite (appropriately) Bristol University’s School of Biological Science in Woodland Road, central Bristol.

Without a doubt the owl will be missed by many Bristolians, and others from around the region that made the trip to see the owl. However, it is not the only eagle owl surviving in the wild in built up areas, as I have had reports from Wales of another large owl living near Neath so its’ pretty likely a new bird will turn up in a South West location in the future and the debates will start all over again.