Thousands of pounds worth of budgies have been stolen from a private aviary in the north-east.
The theft has left their owner out-of-pocket and traumatised by the theft.
Around 70 budgerigars were stolen when thieves targeted his collection at the aviary near Mintlaw, sometime between 3pm on Thursday, April 30, and 2pm on Friday, May 1.
Valued at a mid four-figure sum, the birds included prize winners and 25 chicks still in the nest
Now, in an effort to get the birds back, the owner is offering up to £2,000 for information that leads to their return.
Last night, Alan Bremner, the secretary of Aberdeen’s branch of the Scottish Budgerigar Society, said that budgies bred for pets were an unusual target for criminals because of their low price.
“Their value is in selling to people for pets and pet shops,” he said.
“But show budgerigars are a different thing altogether. Some of them can range in price from £50 up to £1,000.
“If people are just breeding for pets or their own enjoyment, it seems a bit strange that they’d just be targeted -anyone stealing them wouldn’t be able to sell them on.”
Police have asked members of the public to be vigilant when offered a budgie for sale and to look out for the unique code of H6010 on their right foot.
The theft came just days after three eagle owl eggs were taken from a private aviary in the Crudie area of Aberdeenshire.
The eggs, which had newly been laid, were taken between 8.30am and 4.00pm on Monday, April 27.