Man offers $500 reward for return of missing magpie

Piper the magpie has gone missing and Mr Webb is determined to find him. Photo / Trade Me

An Auckland man is offering a reward of $500 for the return of a missing magpie.

Murray Webb, a consultant who lives with his partner on the outskirts of Clevedon, befriended the juvenile bird when it glided down from some nearby macrocarpa trees last month, when it was about a month old.

However, the little black-and-white bird, which he named Piper, has gone missing and Mr Webb is determined to find him.

He found Piper after his two great Pyrenees mountain dogs noticed it in the backyard.

As the bird had not been exposed to predators, the dogs were slightly confused and didn't try to attack.

"He became quite tame and his parents very quickly figured out where he was and would visit everyday and teach him how to be a magpie."

Piper's parental diet was supplemented with strips of lamb and it soon responded to Mr Webb's calls.

The growing magpie returned to his home at the macrocarpa trees, but Mr Webb continued to feed the bird.

However, last Tuesday, Mr Webb found Piper had injured his wing and was also limping.

He captured it and took it to the vet.

On return, Piper moved into a large dog crate and was carefully cared for by Mr Webb.

After six days, Piper was transported back to the trees.

But Mr Webb had not seen it since Monday morning -- and yesterday posted an ad on Trade Me in the hope of learning what had happened.

Auction: To see the Trade Me listing visit tinyurl.com/lostmagpie