- Species: Amazon - Blue Fronted (See species list for details)
- Location: Farnham, Surrey, England
- Date Found: December 14, 2011
- Phone Number: 01483 422644
- Original URL: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2105070_parrot_found_on_cricket_pitch_leaves_vets_stumped
Parrot found on cricket pitch leaves vets stumped
By Amy Taylor
December 14, 2011
A LOST parrot which was rescued from a cricket pitch in Farnham has been given a temporary home while its owners are traced.
The blue fronted Amazon was found by cross-country runner Lee-Stuart Evans, from Godalming, who managed to catch it and take it home with him.
“I was out running with the Guildford Hash House Harriers club and came across this parrot on a cricket pitch,” he said.
“When I came back an hour later it was still there so I rescued it and took it home. I keep birds at home so I was able to house it for a while.
“I went through a database of parrot owners to try and track them down through the ring on its leg, but we haven’t had much luck yet.”
He took the bird, which he named Hash after the running club, to Waverley Vets where a member of staff is now looking after him.
“I would have loved to keep him with me but I don’t think my wife would have liked that as much,” said Lee.
Help in tracing the owners was sought from Birdworld in Farnham. But head keeper, Dean Jakings, said that it was hard to track down where the bird came from.
“It could have been that it escaped, but people do sometimes get bored of their pets and they just let them go, as hard as it is to believe. I have known of that happening.
“Parrots do not make good pets,” he added. “We have always said that. We don’t make ours here do tricks so they don’t appeal to that kind of audience.
“This one could have quite easily have flown 20 miles or so before he flaked out in the field, and when you start crossing these county borders it makes it more difficult to track down.”
The blue and green parrot has a ring on its leg which indicated that he was bought in 1993, but Lee said the vets had told him that parrots could live for up to 80 years.
“These birds can live a long time,” he said. “They can sell for up to £3,000 as well, so they’re not cheap.”
Microchipping pets was the best way of keeping track of them, said Dean, rather than using a ring.
“You can have a lot of problems with rings,” he said. “They can get snagged on things, and some people are dead set against them. The other thing is of course that rings can be easily removed.”
Anyone with information about the parrot can call Waverley Vets in Godalming on 01483 422644.