A pet parrot flew to Taronga Zoo and is looking for its owner in Mosman
IS THIS friendly pet parrot yours? He landed on the shoulder of a Taronga Zoo worker and hopes to find his way home.
Mosman
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IF YOU were a parrot who could not find your way home, where would you go?
Why, Taronga Zoo of course!
A friendly Indian Ringneck parrot landed on the shoulder of a staff member just inside the main entrance on Saturday, July 2.
The employee immediately called a birdkeeper, who took the parrot to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital at the zoo.
Senior veterinary nurse Liz Arthur said the parrot was not part of the zoo’s collection nor a wild bird.
She notified all Mosman veterinary clinics about the lost bird and posted a notification on the Parrot Alert website.
The parrot is a male adult and his primary flight feathers are intact.
He has no leg band or microchip to identify him.
Ms Arthur said in her 25 years at the zoo, she could not remember a similar incident.
“Whoosh, this beautiful bird landed on someone’s shoulder,” she said.
“We usually get injured native wildlife, so this is quite unusual.
“He’s a smart bird and pretty lucky we are doing all the right steps to get him back to his owner.”
Ms Arthur said the ornamental bird could have escaped from a breeder or be someone’s pet.
“He’s settled in quite well and he knew what a cage was,” she said.
“He’s quite happy and playing with things we have given him.
“He has not talked but does respond to bird calls or whistling.”
Ms Arthur said the natural colour of the Indian Ringneck was green, but other colours such as blue came from being bred that way.
The parrot is native to India and Asia.
“He’s in good health and eating really well,” she said.
“We found out his favourite food is paw, but he also eats his natural diet of dry seed.”
The wildlife hospital treats about 1000 injured or orphaned animals every year, although most are native wild animals rather than lost pets.
Taronga Zoo will require proof of ownership if you are the rightful owner of this parrot.
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