Zookeepers in a flap over return of escaped herons

THEY escaped from the zoo over two decades ago, leaving frustrated staff to debate their fate over the years.

Now two cheeky herons who flew the coop in the late 1980s have stunned staff and visitors by showing up at their birthplace over 20 years later - to nick fish from the sea lions.

Perhaps because the cold snap has frozen up their normal source of food, the rare pair of black-crowned night herons, who are not native to the UK, have started returning to the sea lion pad to snaffle a free meal in the morning.

Rumours had been flying that the pair were happily settled on Corstorphine Hill after breaking out of their aviary, but their sudden re-appearances left a birdwatching group in a flutter.

The observers realised that the thieving pair were the zoo's original night herons after spotting the rings on their feet.

Now zookeepers hope they can tempt the runaway pair back to their old home on regular occasions.

A zoo spokeswoman said: "There had always been an urban legend that the birds had survived after they'd escaped. People said they'd seen them around Corstorphine Hill and there were rumours that they came back from time to time.

"But until the birdwatching class spotted them a few weeks ago we couldn't confirm anything. We've now heard the pair are actually quite famous in the birdwatching community, although they're not seen that often.

"I think they're probably keen on the zoo due to the parkland setting, various plant species we have and the biodiversity of the area.

"It's also a good place for the cheeky wee things to steal some grub from during these winter months. The birds are actually native to North America. They have been spotted showing up at 11.15am outside the sea lion enclosure.

"It's good to see they're still alive and kicking after all that time from home."

She said that the zoo would not be taking them back into captivity after they have survived in the wild for so many years.

Geoff de boerr, education officer at Edinburgh Zoo, added: "The two night herons that were spotted on the most recent bird survey are free flying and escaped from the collection many years ago. These birds are not native to the UK and are in fact very rare. They can often be seen at the sea lion enclosure feeding time and are quite famous on the birdwatching circuit.

"People make special trips just to try and spot the birds."

The black-crowned night heron is a medium-sized bird that migrates to Mexico from its home of North America in the winter. Its diet consists mainly of fish, though they also enjoy leeches, earthworms and frogs. They usually live in small groups.