Escaped bird is now back home

ALABAMA -- Pretty Bird was home snoring in his cage today after Athens city employees and others rescued him from traffic on U.S. 31 South.

The captured fugitive doesn’t know it yet, but he’s getting his wings clipped.

“He was so tired and thirsty when he got back home, and he has lost weight,” said bird owner Nicki Parcum, who was elated to have Pretty Bird home. “I want to thank everyone who helped.”

The blue and gold macaw escaped Sunday from his cage at Parcum’s Doggie Stylz dog-grooming salon on 31 South and had been on the lam since. He was sighted Wednesday morning in the treetops near her business, which is located next to Witichen Supply, but no amount of coaxing would bring him down.

 

A bucket truck lowers Nicki Parcus, left, and Adams & Son owner Ricky
Adams Wednesday afternoon among the trees behind Access Automotive
on U.S. 31 South. Parcus was attempting to recover her blue-and-gold
macaw, Pretty Bird, which was last seen flying north among the
treetops along U.S. 31. News Courier/Kim West

 

A local tree trimmer, Ricky Adams of Adams & Son Tree Trimming, had tried to rescue the bird Wednesday with his bucket truck, but Pretty Bird flew away.  He remained in the area and was spotted again this morning walking on 31, south of the Bomar Inn.

Police Chief Floyd Johnson said a passerby saw the bird and telephoned police. The chief said police and several other people stopped to try to catch the fugitive, including Paula Curnutt, Athens Water Department employee Torrey Putman, Julie Ritterbush and Ricky Adams. The chief said Animal Control Officer Paul Tucker responded and tried to catch the macaw, but each time it flew away.

Julie Ritterbush and Ricky Adams feeding
Pretty Bird in an effort to keep her from flying off

Ritterbush and Adams fed the bird bread until the owner arrived to rescue him, Johnson said.

“I was getting ready for work when I got a call from Athens Police saying they had located my bird in front of the Bomar,” Parcum said.

She said her telephone had been ringing all morning after the story of her lost bird appeared in Thursday’s edition of The News Courier and on the courier’s website.

The missing Macaw chewing on Water
Department Torrey Putman's shoestring.

“All of my customers called to ask what they could do,” she said.

A grateful Parcum thanked Athens Police, the Water Department, Animal Control as well as the motorists who stopped to help her bird.

“I am so glad they helped,” she said, noting that Adams had even offered to loan her his all-terrain vehicle to help located the bird in the woods off 31.

(The News Leader - May 31, 2013)

Earlier:

• Woman seeks help in finding missing macaw