Shropshire Star

Blown off course! Shropshire woman's exotic pet tracked down

An exotic bird expert today said she is grateful to the people of Shropshire who helped track down her pet.

Published
Zach the 21-year-old blue-and-gold macaw

Zach, the 21-year-old parrot, didn't come to owner Rebecca Taylor for his breakfast as usual on Thursday morning.

She figured out that the blue-and-yellow macaw had been blown off course in the heavy wind on Wednesday night.

Rebecca, who keeps birds at Windy Oak Farm near Ellerdine, near Telford said: "Every morning Zach flies down to the house for breakfast.

"Although he's free flying he's very tame, he mostly follows me around and he comes to knock on the window of the house.

"He has a real personality, when I walk the dogs he comes with me.

"It was awful when we realised he was missing."

Rebecca took to Facebook to ask for help finding the distinctive bird, and the response she got didn't disappoint.

She and her daughter Sarah, who still runs the Beck's Birds and Exotics shop in Shrewsbury, quickly got a number of calls from people across the county who had spotted Zach, from Great Bolas to Tibberton.

Eventually he was tracked to a garden fence in Hodnet, where Rebecca was reunited with her feathered friend on Friday morning.

She said: "He's not had food for more than a day so he is a bit subdued but fine otherwise.

"I can't express how helpful everyone was. I have had so many phone calls off of strangers helping out.

"The lady whose fence Zach was on is Jacqui Kittys, she was great.

"A big thank you to everyone who helped."

In a post to Facebook, Rebecca said: "Zach is home! Thank you all you lovely people.

"Very subdued and will spend a couple of days in the holiday room before getting back to normal.

"Can’t thank everyone enough."

Blue-and-yellow macaws are often kept as pets because of their bonding with humans and their ability to talk, as well as their bright plumage.