The footage melting hearts across Australia: Molly the Magpie settles back into hishome after being separated from his family for 45 days

Heartwarming footage has captured Molly the Magpie cherishing his first day at home after being reunited with his family and Staffordshire Terrier friends.

Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen shared a montage of the bird's 'first 24 hours home' after he was returned to his family on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Molly had been separated from the family for 45 days after he was confiscated by wildlife authorities before he was returned following naitonwide outrage.  

Video showed Molly charging around the house with his wings out, having a bath, singing and enjoying the sunshine with his canine friends Peggy and Ruby. 

'Molly's first 24 hours home has been wonderful for all of us,' Ms Wells wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

'The three best friends have been enjoying the sun together or just enjoying each others' company like they have always done. 

'They are resettling into their normal home life and Molly has had a few baths and played with his faithful sloth toys with Peggy and Ruby never too far away.

'We have had to duck quite a few times as wings flap by our heads and the constant singing is music to our ears.' 

Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen rescued Molly as a baby in 2020 and started sharing his 'unlikely friendship with their two pet staffies on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 

The trio shot to stardom, attracting two million followers, and starred in a book filled with photos of the unlikely companions, with fans gushing over the 'very special' relationship between the three animals.

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

Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen voluntarily surrendered Molly to Queensland's Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) on March 1 after authorities found they did not have the required permit to care for native wildlife. 

After a battle with the state government, Molly was returned on Monday under strict conditions, including that the couple no longer profit from the bird or its image.

Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen shared an emotional update on Facebook immediately after they were reunited with their beloved bird earlier this week.

'We are so excited to be able to share the first photo of the 3 besties reunited,' the couple wrote.

'Thank you for giving us a little space to settle in and enjoy each others company again.' 

A photo showed the two dogs sitting on a white fluffy cushion while Molly stood on the side and stared into the camera.

'He’s singing, barking and sunning himself 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'.

Another gushing post read: 'We have the best news. Molly is Home. We are overwhelmed with emotion right now.

'It was a very exciting reunion at the [Department] this morning for us with a little cry of happiness from Molly.'

Social media users were overjoyed about Molly's return. 

'So happy to see Molly back where he belongs,' one person said. 

'Watching Molly come has made my day. Love how he has a bath, it's like he's washing himself clean of all the ridiculousness that went one,' another wrote. 

'If this doesn't show the world the bond these have, I don't know what else could,' a third person said. 'So glad Molly is safe and home.' 

Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen undertook wildlife carer training and must continue engaging with authorities to ensure the bird is receiving adequate care.

They couple said they had been given a license to care for the bird. 

They are also encouraged to publicly educate others on how to appropriately care for native wildlife.