BRUCE the kookaburra is on the run – but while owners and staff at the animal attraction where he lives are upset, his partner Sheila has remained remarkably unruffled.

Bruce, a one-year-old kookaburra, took his chance to escape when a roof panel on the pair’s enclosure at Doniford Farm near Watchet came away in high winds and rain on Boxing Day.

He was spotted two days later in a nearby orchard, but when Sheila was taken along to see if her call might coax him back, she declined to help get him home and stayed silent, contrary to her usual talkative nature.

Steve Clothier, who started the Doniford Farm attraction with his wife Kay five years ago, is upset at the loss and will keep trying to entice Bruce back if he can find him.

“It is upsetting - if you keep animals you don’t like to lose one. This is the first escape in five years,” he said.

Sheila, however, seems totally unfazed. She stayed home when Bruce escaped and has been showing no signs of pining for him or going off her food.

“They used to cosy up together at night when they were roosting, but he only came to us this year and is a youngster in his first year, while she is about seven and is used to being on her own,” said Steve.

“They are popular with visitors, particularly Sheila as she makes a lot of noise. Bruce is more silent.”

Both Bruce and Sheila were bred in captivity in the UK, but kookaburras are found widely in Australia and are members of the kingfisher family.

Also known as the laughing jackass, they make that sound when they call, and Steve is hoping Sheila’s voice might still do the trick.

“They are very hardy birds and I hope Bruce is all right and will come back if he hears her call. At the moment, we can’t entice him to fly back.”