KEY POINTS:
A magical green dove has been stolen and its owner is appealing to the public for its safe return.
Mark Robinson has been doing magic shows since he was 8 at children's birthday parties, resthomes and convention centres.
While performing his dove act at The World Festival of Magic in Greenlane yesterday, one of his prized birds, Angel, flew out into the crowd and was taken.
The 20-year-old from North Shore says he has been training the dove - one of 13 - for the past year and a half and is disappointed that someone has not come forward with the bird.
"I don't clip the birds' wings, I've just worked hard to get them to do these tricks. It's just so sad to know someone's gone off with her - it means nothing to them, but everything to me."
If released into the wild, the dove - dyed green and the only green dove in the country - will not survive for more than a day as it cannot fly long distances.
Mr Robinson, who is dyslexic, said a lot of people would think what had happened was funny and disregard the hard work that goes into a magic act.
An emotional Mr Robinson said: "I do it to share with people, it's special to see people happy because of me. My magic show is a gift to people. Making kids smile and being caught out - that's what magic's really about."
