Lost parrot home after frantic five-day search
SuppliedA pet parrot who only recently started to fly has been reunited with his owners following a frantic five-day search.
Burt, an African Grey, who is about five months old, went missing from his home in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Thursday, leaving Stephen and Christine Wilkinson devastated.
Mrs Wilkinson said her husband, who has cancer, got her Burt as a companion and they quickly bonded, so it was "total and utter, consuming grief" when he disappeared.
She said despite walking "for hours and hours" searching her local area, Burt turned up about 30 miles away (48km) at a nursery in Jarrow, South Tyneside, before a social media appeal managed to get him home.
Mrs Wilkinson said Burt flew off from her conservatory after being spooked when a delivery driver opened the door.
She said she had been walking for about 30 miles, thinking the parrot would not have flown too far.
"If only we were going in the same direction," she laughed.
Emma GibbonsThe nursery that found Burt contacted Emma Gibbons, who runs Emma's Exotic Animal Encounters, and she looked after him until his owners were located.
She said his distinctive missing toe gave him away and she was able to recognise him from social media posts about the search.
A reunion was quickly arranged and she drove Burt home on Monday.
Mrs Wilkinson said "he was so happy" to be back.
"When he saw me, it's hard to describe, but he gave an audible sigh of relief," she said.
She said Burt was doing well but had a sore throat and was tired.
Emma GibbonsThe search for Burt touched hearts around the world, with people from as far as the United States messaging Mrs Wilkinson.
She said she drove around playing Burt's favourite songs and bird sounds to try and attract him.
"I've been through pairs of shoes, my feet have bled, I've been walking for hours and hours on end," she said.
"I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping. It was really taking a toll. It was making me ill. It just took over my life completely."
Mrs Wilkinson, 46, said the kindness of the community during the search meant a lot to her.
She said Burt, who imitates her laugh, had become "a bit of a celebrity" on social media and she has since created a Facebook page to keep people updated.
"Steve didn't want me to be alone for the rest for my life so he got me Burt because they live a long time and so that I would always have a companion," she said.
"I got very attached to him and he bonded really quickly with me as well.
"I hope nothing ever happens to Steve, but it's some comfort to me that if the worst happened, I have Burt. And that means everything. Because he will always be mine and Steve's."