People believe unusual red factor canaries which have turned up in Costessey have been released deliberately.  

One local who caught one the non-native birds said: “One of them flew into my back door at 9pm on June 15.  

“My husband managed to catch it in a net – I asked neighbours if they had lost one, but no one had.  

Norwich Evening News: One woman captured one and put it in a box and she could tell it was not native One woman captured one and put it in a box and she could tell it was not native (Image: Submitted)

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“I am hoping that they hadn’t just been let out to fend for themselves.” 

Another neighbour who had a similar experience said: “The canary had flown into our kitchen last Thursday morning – it was obviously someone's pet, so I caught it and put it into a large box.  

“The bird was extremely tame, I put it on Facebook and think it is very odd that no one has yet come forward to claim it.  

“I think someone has let them out as so many people have found them which is not nice, I would rather people gave them away rather than let them go and possibly be killed.”  

Norwich Evening News: The captured birds are currently being cared for by people around Costessey The captured birds are currently being cared for by people around Costessey (Image: Submitted)

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The canaries are currently being looked after by various people around Costessey who have experience with birds.  

City wildlife expert Kevin Murphy, who owns Norfolk Wildlife Rescue, has said that if the birds are not captured, they will certainly die.  

Though his expertise is native wildlife he thinks that the birds are red factor canaries. 

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Norwich Evening News: Kevin Murphy Norfolk Wildlife Rescue said that the canaries will die if left in the wild Kevin Murphy Norfolk Wildlife Rescue said that the canaries will die if left in the wild (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “These could have accidentally escaped, but the cost of keeping them could also be a factor in them being released deliberately – which is both irresponsible and illegal as they are non-native.  

“If left out in the wild they will die as they can easily be spotted by predators such as gulls, hawks and crows.”  

If found Kevin can be contacted to retrieve the birds.  

Norwich Evening News: Many people claim to have spotted and/or captured one of the canaries Many people claim to have spotted and/or captured one of the canaries (Image: Submitted)