THE DAYS of freedom are over for Bruce the kookaburra who escaped captivity and went on the run – but he is glad to be home, in spite of a telling-off from his mate Sheila.

And he is not the only happy one. Owners and staff at visitor attraction Doniford Farm, near Watchet, were delighted to have him back this week after trying to recapture him ever since his escape on Boxing Day.

His mate Sheila, who declined to join him and appeared not to mind his absence after he escaped when high winds and rain blew off a roof panel from his enclosure, was not impressed by his activities – and told him so.

“She was very vocal when she saw him again – it really looked as if she was telling him off,” said Kay Clothier, who started Doniford Farm with her husband Steve five years ago.

Bruce’s owners had been tracking his movements after receiving many calls from kind neighbours in the area who let them know he had been sighted, and who also put food out for him.

“We tried to entice him back but he flew off, and we didn’t want to alarm him. Freedom may sound fun but he was bred in captivity and without shelter or food it would be very difficult.

“We were worried that he would not survive if the weather turned very cold,” said Kay.

In the end, Doniford Farm’s animal keeper Tim Kelly managed to trap him in the area known locally as The Married Quarters, after he flew into a specially rigged cage for some food – and Bruce, who is a young bird and only just reaching maturity, seems glad to be back home with regular meals.

Now he and Sheila appear to have put the incident behind them and are in a new, secure enclosure where “they seem very happy to be back together” and roost together at night.