Fly, Fly Away

Seattlest has seen flight demonstrations at the Woodland Park Zoo, and at the time we couldn't help thinking, "Why doesn't the bird just fly off?" We watched as a falcon flew out over the zoo and was out of sight for nearly a minute before returning safely to a trainer's gloved hand. This was performed repeatedly. "Why doesn't the bird just fly away?" Seattlest wondered.

Well, the bird just flew away. It turns out Kenai the gyrfalcon is a repeat runaway who was out and about for six days the last time she made a break for it. During a demonstration Sunday Kenai wowed onlookers and zoo staff alike by failing to return to her leather perch. Radio tracking technology has led zoo keepers to Kirkland most recently in their hunt for the bird, but so far they have been unable to lure the bird home.

Zoo officials estimate that the bird can go approximately ten days without eating before it begins to carry off family pets and small children and is not expected to revert to its hunting instincts as it was raised in captivity. No word on what will join the caiman (or Willatuk?) and the gyrfalcon as the next exotic animal to break free of its bonds and roam Lake Washington untethered to man.

Contact the Woodland Park Zoo at (206)684-4800 if you see the gyrfalcon.

Update @ 10am Friday: Kenai the gyrfalcon is back at the zoo, however, Seattlest recommends you continue calling Woodland Park with sightings.