MICHAEL'S OFF TO TWEET HIS MATE

WILD birds are not known for their cute, cuddly nature, but one Corbet man has formed an unlikely bond with a friendly pheasant over the last few months.

When Michael Wallace came home one day late last year to say he had tamed the wild bird his wife and son, also Michael, had to see it to believe it.

And sure enough when they took a trip to the pheasant's home in the old Tullyorior school the brightly-coloured bird approached Michael senior.

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Since the beginning of winter the pheasant has become accustomed to daily visits from Michael Senior, even recognising his BMW X5 and running at lightning speeds towards it.

Michael Junior said visiting the pheasant has become part of his father's daily routine, having begun when he first spotted the bird after being on land near the old school building.

"When my dad arrives to feed him the pheasant hops up onto the wall," he told the Leader.

"Then he pecks the ground and looks up as if to say 'feed me'."

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The pheasant, who seems to have a family up round the old school, also visits another home in the area for his breakfast each morning.

"He goes to them first thing in the morning and gets food at the back door," said Michael Junior.

"But he then goes to the old school and stays there for the rest of the day waiting for dad to visit."

A Leader story some weeks ago which reported Tanvally woman Olwyn McBride's unlikely friendship with a red-breasted robin generated much conversation in the Corbet area according to Michael Junior.

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"We heard about Olwyn's story with the robin and thought this was an even more surprising friendship because pheasants are known as being wild creatures," he said.

Although the pheasant, who has not as yet got a name, visited Michael's home house on a previous occasion, he said they would prefer it stayed at the old school for its own safety.

"It is so keen to follow my father that he has to drive away pretty quickly most times in case it would come back with him," said Michael Junior.

"There's a chance he would be hurt out on the road if he followed dad back so for now dad is content to travel up to Tullyorior and feed him there."