74469-40A KESTREL at a Swindon animal sanctuary has decided not to return to the wild.

The kestrel, when faced with the choice of Wootton Bassett or freedom, considered the situation and promptly opted for Wootton Bassett.

John Warwick, of the Swindon and District Animal Haven, said: "The kestrel didn't want to fly.

"I don't blame it. It was really cold. Now I'll have to build a flight area for it so it has some room to fly.

"I'll have to build a release aviary. That'll give it a bit of confidence to fly."

The kestrel, a female aged about two, is deliberately nameless so that it does not get tame.

John said: "We didn't want to name it because it would very easily become a pet.

"We don't want it to have human contact. It has to stay wild.

"It's just been nursed from a distance so that it doesn't get too attached and used to people."

The kestrel was found injured by a member of the public near Lambourne.

John said: "We took it to the vet. Nothing much was wrong with it, and after it was given some injections it recovered well.

"It's been taught to eat properly.

"At the beginning it was listless, as if it had given up.

"We had to tempt it with steak to make it eat."

Another attempt to release the kestrel will be made later in the year.

Meanwhile the animal haven has another dissident resident. Olly the Barn Owl cannot be released yet because he hasn't yet learned to get his own food.

Famed for wisdom, perhaps the owl, who is also about two years ago, has decided that waiter service is quite a good system.

John said: "He has to be taught to look after himself. I think he's too smart to leave.

"He's just like a teenager. We haven't released him yet because we have to make sure he's capable of looking after himself."

David Andrew