The family of Molly the Magpie share emotional update after the bird was reunited with her Staffordshire Terrier friends

The family of Molly the Magpie have shared an emotional update after the bird was reunited with her two Staffordshire friends Peggy and Ruby.

Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson shared a photograph on Facebook on Tuesday showing the family reunited at their Gold Coast home.

‘We are so excited to share the first photo of the 3 besties reunited,’ the couple wrote.

“Thank you for giving us some space to settle down and enjoy each other’s company again.”

Queensland Environment Department officials removed the male treasure from the couple’s home on March 1, saying the wild bird was being kept illegally.

But now the bird is finally home after spending 45 days separated from its family.

The photo showed the two dogs sitting on a white, soft cushion, while Molly stood to the side and stared into the camera.

“He sings, barks and basks with Peggy and Ruby,” Ms. Wells and Mr. Mortenson said.

‘We are so grateful to have him back with us, we couldn’t have done it with you’.

The couple broke the news on Monday that Molly had been returned to their home.

‘We have the best news. Molly is at home. We are overwhelmed with emotion right now,’ they wrote.

‘It was a very exciting reunion in (the department) this morning for us with a little shout of happiness from Molly.’

Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson said they had obtained a license to look after the bird.

The turn of events comes after the department removed the male magpie from the couple’s home on March 1.

Authorities said at the time that the wild bird was being kept illegally.

The couple explained that Molly is not cared for like a caged parrot or budgie as he is free to fly away and forage for food and come back.

Social media users slammed the decision, with supporters on Peggy and Molly’s Facebook page pleading for the bird to be returned safely to the family.

Independent veterinary advice found that Molly is ‘very habituated and may have developmental issues’, meaning the stingray cannot be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

“The decision to return Molly has been made in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 following extensive legal advice,” department officials said in a statement on Monday.

The beloved magpie (pictured right) was reunited with the bird’s owners on Monday

The department said Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson had agreed to several terms and conditions, including wildlife care and training to care for Molly.

Ms Wells and Mr Mortonson rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020.

Molly was originally thought to be a female by Mrs. Wells, but is actually a male and the name stuck.

Uploaded online, videos of the magpie playing with Peggy and Ruby went viral and quickly attracted a loyal fan base.