Birdie of the night
A true story by greg sujecki
April 5th 2005

Last night at 8pm,my neighbour (Peter) was walking his dog, in conversation he told me he owns a trained, clipped winged Galah (Pink Cockatoo) named Birdie he has had for some time (about 2yrs). Unfortunately Birdie the Galah flew away about sundown.             After asking a few questions about Birdie’s behaviour, Peter told me Birdie responds to his son’s car Nick, when ever he arrives home by screeching. So l suggested to Peter he go home and start Nick’s car, which was done and they Peter, Nick and Jo who is Peter’s daughter heard the Galah call out from a tall palm tree next door. With good lighting outside at Peters home and the neighbours house, also touches in our hand the height of the tree made its inaccessible. So Nick and Jo joined in the task of how to bring him back home. After calling him (by whistling his favourite sounds) with good response’s all the time. He still wouldn’t come home.

After some time, Nick and l climbed a ladder to the roof of the house to get Birdie’s attention to come down from the tree. But a fruit Bat flew past to close to where Birdie was on the tree, which startled him forcing him to take fright then fly off towards the next street. We all then panicked and thought the worst being so dark at night,but you never know, so with Nick and his car driving slowly in front of me that way l can hear Birdie not his V8 engine, we went around the next street to where Birdie might have flown.

To no avail Nick and l went to the next street when Peter called and said he heard Birdie calling two doors from home. Birdie must have turned back and come towards where their was more light or just it was good luck. So Nick and l went around the street behind his family home to see where Birdie is. After searching to no sound of Birdie, Nick drove back home and when l walked back to Peter’s house, he was calling from a big tall tree that looked like two house’s away. We all then tried to pin point where he  was. Realising the tree is on our side of the street two doors away.

We all then proceeded there and Nick walked in and asked the owner of the house if he could have a look. Peter, Jo and l waited for a few minutes wondering what was happening when all of a sudden Nick walked out the back gate with Birdie!!!! To all of our relief. 

This episode took about 2 and a half hours on this night but with patience and hope it was all well worth the effort. Birdie has got his wings clipped again so this shouldn’t happen again. A happy ending to what looked like a dark parrots night.

By Greg Sujecki