Flyaway bird's wings are clipped

Eric Baxter • Published 27 May 2010 14:00

A FLYAWAY African grey parrot has been re-united with his Greenock owner after a few days of freedom.

Coco managed to escape from his Tweed Street back garden.

Owner Kenny Gibson was cleaning the cage and the lively bird squeezed out of a space in the bottom of it to make his great escape.

Kenny, 66, feared 20-year-old Coco would be attacked by crows or magpies because of his bright red tail, or that he would starve because he couldn't get his normal diet of nuts, sunflower seeds and grapes.

He said: "I was even worried he might land on the Coves reservoirs and drown or that he would be affected when the temperature dropped at night."

Coco was spotted several times over the next few days in the surrounding area, but he was too high in trees to be caught.

Kenny said: "I whistled up to him and he whistled back. He's a great imitator.

"I borrowed a net in the hope that I would be able to throw it over him. People came out of their houses to try to help, but Coco still stayed out of reach."

All hope of catching him seemed lost until Tuesday afternoon, when he was handed into Abbey Vets in Greenock by a woman who threw a towel over him after he crash-landed in her back garden in Gateside Gardens.

The vets phoned the Tele and we got in touch with Kenny, who had already contacted us about Coco.

Kenny said: "It's great to have him home. His wings have been clipped now so he can't fly too far.

"I don't know the name of the woman who caught Coco, but I'd like to thank her very much and also everyone else who helped in the search for Coco.

"He's a bit dehydrated and tired after his adventure, but I'm sure he'll soon recover.

"African greys can live until they are 70 or 80, so Coco should have a few years to go yet!"

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 May 10

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