- Species: Cockatoo - Umbrella (See species list for details)
- Location: South Sioux City, Iowa, United States 68776
- Date Lost: April 29, 2013
- Banded: No
- Microchipped: No
Popcorn went missing after taking flight on the banks of the Missouri River in South Sioux City, NE. There were several witnesses to the events that day. Unable to keep running the pace of the current I last saw Popcorn floating back into the river banks on the Nebraska side about 1/2 mile south of where the train tracks cross the river. There were people / witnesses in the same inlet into which Popcorn was floating who saw and heard me as I was pointing to the water and shouting for their attention. It is strongly believed that Popcorn was kept by his rescuer that day.
There were 2 sightings in August that same year in the neighborhood adjacent to the same river area. Both residents were certain they were looking at an exotic bird / pet that had apparently escaped his cage. Neither were able to make a call before the bird was gone. Their physical descriptions of what they saw matched the size and coloring of Popcorn as well.
The residents reporting the sightings lived approximately 4 blocks from each other west of the South Sioux City high school and Dakota Avenue. Cross streets 32 & 34 th
Popcorn barks like a dog, when upset sings “Staying Alive,” his right cerus has always been completely closed. I had his sinus flushed by avian vet and nothing changed. It would always close up. Popcorn’s beak is crooked top covering bottom to his left. He is a good size umbrella weighing approx 5-650 gm, stands 12-14″ and measures 16-18 from tip of beak to end of tail feathers. He was fully feathered. Popcorn would say my name “Karen” with a Jersey accent, he would also say “hi bird bird”, “Pop bird”, he is very affectionate and loves tenting under his blanket while snoozing on my lap. He would try and crawl under my shirts and snuggle in my bathrobe sleeves. Popcorn loved dogs and children and is very friendly. He’s also very curions, loves to open kitchen drawers and hide in the back of the. He could reach up to kitchen cupboards and lift himself inside and loves to push all the dishes out, if he somehow manages to get up to the counters. He liked to crawl inside my see through dogfood standing 10 gallon container. Like the view from inside my entertainment center which had separate bookcases that had glass fronts. Boxes were aa love too. Sometimes I would find his curiosity landed him in the garbage can. He didn’t seem to mind.
Popcorn my boy was my rescue. We began our lives together Sept of 2005. I was told he was 18 and they think that I would be his 5th owner.. Popcorn has been abused, neglected and physically hit by humans. During our first two years I was bitten, a lot. Popcorn would strike out at a phone book, magazine, newspaper, broom, bare feet, feet with shoes, he is very territorial of the bathroom and spent many hours enjoying himself standing on the bathroom rug with a bath towel covering him. He also like wading in the sink or showering with me.. Having had found his forever home Popcorn may have very well become aggressive and bitten who ever had/has him as once again his life is in turmoil.
LOST IA NE South Sioux City/IA, Sioux City Umbrella Cockatoo “Popcorn”, Apr. 29., 13