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Bleak future for randy owl whose midnight hoots are ruffling a few feathers

5:15pm Thursday 28th January 2010 in News

Wendy Whitfield with Twixx. Wendy Whitfield with Twixx.

HE’S the sex starved owl that’s ruffled the feathers of his neighbours with his late night mating calls.

But the future looks bleak for the horny tawny after complaints from nearby residents forced council chiefs to order an end to his midnight hoots.

Now Twixx faces being put down if his owner Wendy Whitfield cannot find him a new home.

The 12-year-old bird of prey is kept in a cage at the bottom of Wendy’s garden in Hedge End, but it backs on to a small block of flats.

The residents there are being kept awake by the randy bird’s noises after his head was turned by a wild owl that comes to visit.

The flat owners could take it no more and complained to Eastleigh council which ordered Wendy to remove Twixx or face a £5,000 fine.

Comments(11)

boozie says...
6:13pm Thu 28 Jan 10

how ridiculous,next the r s p b will be fined for wild birds keeping them awake,some people need to get a life!!!!!

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Henry Bear says...
6:16pm Thu 28 Jan 10

I take it is does not make twit twoo noises but more like screaches?

If that is the case then the bird should be moved

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rook says...
7:29pm Thu 28 Jan 10

I think Barn Owls screech and Tawny Owls like this one hoot. Of all the things to complain about these losers should get a life and live next to a railway or in a city. Leave the bird alone.

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Xchurch-man says...
7:51pm Thu 28 Jan 10

There are some sad people out there who rather than complaining need to get a life. I hope this poor lady does not have to re-home this lovely bird. If she does I hope the wild one continues to visit and call.
the sad person who complained will then be unable to do anything to harass a protected wild bird and will just have to put up with the noise.
Councils should have better things to do, bl**dy jobs-worths.

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twynham says...
8:34pm Thu 28 Jan 10

Yes, Tawny owls do scream occasionally, but I used to be able to sleep through it when one used to roost at the end of my garden and if I did wake up was only too pleased to hear it.

As this story originates in Hedge End (Sotton Echo surely) I think I would rather hear a Tawny hooting and occasionally screaming than most of the nocturnal sounds I have experienced around Eastleigh!

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twynham says...
8:53pm Thu 28 Jan 10

Anorak time.

Just to make sure I was right that Tawny owls scream, have just looked in Collins who describe it as a shrill ‘ke-wick’ but also a song of ‘hoo-hoo-hoo’ followed at a long interval by a long tremulous ‘oo-oo-oo-oo’

I could live with that.

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WIGGINSv says...
8:55pm Thu 28 Jan 10

twynham wrote:
Anorak time. Just to make sure I was right that Tawny owls scream, have just looked in Collins who describe it as a shrill ‘ke-wick’ but also a song of ‘hoo-hoo-hoo’ followed at a long interval by a long tremulous ‘oo-oo-oo-oo’ I could live with that.
I think you will find that is only in the mating season.

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Lord Spring says...
11:43pm Thu 28 Jan 10

More local news from Southampton,

I dont care a hoot .

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charley farley west parley says...
4:08am Fri 29 Jan 10

Is there someway we can blame Bournemouth council?

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oneshortleg says...
7:32am Fri 29 Jan 10

Why has she got a wild bird locked up in the first place?

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Fire_fly says...
9:26am Fri 29 Jan 10

Set the bird free!

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