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Lost bird's 'phone call' to owner | Lost bird's 'phone call' to owner |
(4 days later) | |
A missing cockatiel is now safe and sound at home after confirming its own name in a phone call to its owner. | A missing cockatiel is now safe and sound at home after confirming its own name in a phone call to its owner. |
Accountant Sue Hill, who found the bird in Wrexham, was put in touch with a possible owner by a local vet. | Accountant Sue Hill, who found the bird in Wrexham, was put in touch with a possible owner by a local vet. |
When she called the number she let the bird listen to the voice at the other end of the phone - at which point it chirped its own name: "Smokey." | When she called the number she let the bird listen to the voice at the other end of the phone - at which point it chirped its own name: "Smokey." |
Mrs Hill said it was the first time the bird had spoken, which convinced her she had found its owner. | Mrs Hill said it was the first time the bird had spoken, which convinced her she had found its owner. |
Smokey the grey cockatiel went missing for two days after flying out of the door of David and Carole Edwards' home in Wrexham. | Smokey the grey cockatiel went missing for two days after flying out of the door of David and Carole Edwards' home in Wrexham. |
My heart went when he flew away...it was the worst feeling in the world. David Edwards, Smokey's owner | My heart went when he flew away...it was the worst feeling in the world. David Edwards, Smokey's owner |
Mrs Hill, who lives about two miles (3.2km) away, spotted him in a tree and he flew down to perch on her shoulder. | Mrs Hill, who lives about two miles (3.2km) away, spotted him in a tree and he flew down to perch on her shoulder. |
She said: "I didn't really know what to do, so I just carried on walking. One man walked past with his dog and said, 'Why don't you get a dog like everyone else?' | She said: "I didn't really know what to do, so I just carried on walking. One man walked past with his dog and said, 'Why don't you get a dog like everyone else?' |
"I must have looked really silly. | "I must have looked really silly. |
"I took him home because I didn't think he would survive, and it was a Sunday so there was nobody I could really contact. | "I took him home because I didn't think he would survive, and it was a Sunday so there was nobody I could really contact. |
"But the following morning I rang the local vet and amazingly, they had been contacted by someone that morning." | "But the following morning I rang the local vet and amazingly, they had been contacted by someone that morning." |
The vet passed on a telephone number for the Edwards', and Mrs Hill set out to prove they were the real owners. | The vet passed on a telephone number for the Edwards', and Mrs Hill set out to prove they were the real owners. |
Mr Edwards said he was grateful to Mrs Hill for returning Smokey | |
She said: "Rather than me asking Mrs Edwards to describe the bird - because they probably all look very similar - she shouted down the phone. | She said: "Rather than me asking Mrs Edwards to describe the bird - because they probably all look very similar - she shouted down the phone. |
"It was so amusing. When she shouted 'Smokey' he just responded straight away. It was hysterical, and there was no doubt in my mind they were the owners." | "It was so amusing. When she shouted 'Smokey' he just responded straight away. It was hysterical, and there was no doubt in my mind they were the owners." |
After being reunited with Smokey, owner Mr Edwards, a retired taxi driver, said: "He's a one-in-a-million bird. | After being reunited with Smokey, owner Mr Edwards, a retired taxi driver, said: "He's a one-in-a-million bird. |
"My heart went when he flew away. I didn't sleep for two nights, it was the worst feeling in the world. I don't mind admitting I shed a few tears on my way to pick him up. | "My heart went when he flew away. I didn't sleep for two nights, it was the worst feeling in the world. I don't mind admitting I shed a few tears on my way to pick him up. |
"I was so relieved to hear he was safe. | "I was so relieved to hear he was safe. |
"He's a very talkative bird, but he never talks when you want him too, just when he feels like it." | "He's a very talkative bird, but he never talks when you want him too, just when he feels like it." |
Mr Edwards, who also owns another bird, said he looked after Smokey for his grandson Ryan. | Mr Edwards, who also owns another bird, said he looked after Smokey for his grandson Ryan. |
He added: "We let them fly around the house, they're not kept in cages all the time, and that's why he managed to get out. | He added: "We let them fly around the house, they're not kept in cages all the time, and that's why he managed to get out. |
"We're so grateful for Sue for returning him safely to us." | "We're so grateful for Sue for returning him safely to us." |
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