This is Troy, the one year old tawny owl who fell out of his nest as a baby and has a fear of heights. Because he's been raised in captivity, he doesn't realise he's a bird and now his handler, Gareth Tonen has the job of getting him to feel secure enough to take to the skies. At the moment, he's happy to fly alongside Gareth who is 5ft 10in, but refuses to fly any higher.
Gareth works at the Hawk Conservancy trust in Hampshire and is trying to temp Troy to leave his comfort zone. He's never been any higher than his handler can lift him and doesn't know how to sit in trees or hunt. So every day, Gareth goes up into trees and when he calls, Troy will fly up to him but no higher. Then he flies down to the ground again.
At the end of the day Troy is given a meal of mouse, rabbit or his favourite chicken, so there is no incentive for him to learn to hunt. But they haven't given up hope. Gareth says "We'll get there. He's gaining more confidence and if I have to carry on climbing trees with him, then we'll do what it takes for him to be a high flyer".
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