A teenage falconer has been re-united with the beloved bird he feared lost forever – thanks to Facebook.

James Dickinson, 17, works at SMJ Falconry in Oxenhope, Keighley, and during a display in Barnsley last Thursday his prized Lanner falcon Nekala failed to return.

James and other falconers spent hours searching for her, but the search proved fruitless, and James feared he may never see the bird again.

Four days passed before the search took a twist when it moved online – James found a photograph of Nakala posted from Malton in North Yorkshire, almost 70 miles from where she was last seen.

The bird had been found by a farmer, who managed to catch her using twine and a leg of lamb. He took her to his friend, popular wildlife artist Robert Fuller, whose knowledge of birds meant knew exactly what type she was.

Mr Fuller then advertised his discovery on the social networking site. Although she had a tag on her leg, the transmitter that would normally have allowed staff at the falconry to find her had been chewed off.

Mr Fuller said: “I posted a picture of her with an appeal on Facebook. By the following morning I’d found her owner. Amazing what social media can do. I’m just so pleased that they are reunited. James was so happy to have her back.”

James described the moment Nekala, an 11 month old which he has been responsible for training since she was a chick, disappeared. He said: “We were doing a show, she flew off, came back, but then flew off again. It is the first time she has done anything like that.

“I was made up when we got her back. She was fine. Hopefully she won’t do anything like this again.”

James, of Prince Street in Haworth, has been involved in falconry since he was 15 – when he was given an gift experience for his birthday.

He started volunteering not long after and now works full time for the business. He plans to stay at the job for a long time, adding: “I’m really into birds, and I’ve always had something to do with animals.”

Although he is responsible for other birds, he said Nekala was his pride and joy, and was delighted to finally be re-united on Wednesday.

Sandra Johnson, owner of the falconry, said: “He just has a natural affinity with the birds.

“When one goes missing I always say to staff never give up hope, even when it gets to four or five days.”

Mr Fuller is now considering making the bird the subject of his next painting.

Barnsley was the setting for another story about a boy and his Kestrel - Kes, the Barry Hines novel that was also turned into a movie, by Ken Loach. Fortunately James’ story had a happier ending!