New twist in Molly the Magpie saga – as family face another hurdle to bring their beloved bird home

The former owners of an Instagram-famous bird have encountered yet another hurdle in their efforts to have the magpie returned by wildlife authorities. 

Molly the Magpie, who is a male bird, gained an online following of almost one million people with his friendship with two Staffordshire terriers Peggy and Ruby. 

The magpie was removed from the Gold Coast home of Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson by officials from Queensland’s Environment Department on March 1 over allegations the bird was being kept unlawfully. 

After Molly’s removal caused outrage on social media, the couple and their loyal followers began to petition the Queensland Premier to return the bird. 

Steven Miles announced on Wednesday that Molly the Magpie would be coming home ‘very soon’ as long as the couple got the appropriate wildlife permit. 

However, it’s now been revealed Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen will have to also meet a number of conditions in order to keep the wild bird in their home. 

Officials have forbid the couple from making any ongoing commercial gain from the bird, bringing into question the future of their much-loved Instagram page ‘peggyandmolly’ which boasts 815,000 followers. 

They have also come out with the book ‘Peggy and Molly’ which features dozens of photos of the unique interspecies friendship.

The couple will also have to undertake wildlife carer training, advocate for public education of native wildlife and continue to work with the environment department to ensure Molly is receiving adequate care. 

‘Molly’s return hinges on the family applying for a licence and agreeing with a range of conditions that will ensure the best outcome for the animal’s ongoing health and wellbeing,’ the department said on Thursday. 

‘Once the individuals have demonstrated that they can and will meet the conditions, Molly will be placed with its former carers.’

Wildlife authorities said the magpie was removed from the couple’s home on the grounds they had no permission to keep a wild bird.

They say the bird is highly habituated and ‘may have developmental issues’ meaning it can never be returned to the wild. 

However, the couple argue they don’t keep Molly in the way a pet owner might look after a caged budgerigar or parrot, as he is free to fly away and forage for food and make his own return.

They say they rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020. 

Ms Wells was first asked to surrender Molly six months ago when authorities visited her home but she was unable to capture the bird as it was in a tree. 

In Queensland, magpies and other wildlife protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, can only be cared for by licensed carers. 

These carers have to demonstrate to wildlife authorities that they have the skills necessary to provide the necessary specialist care.