Local naturalist Judy Boyd was called to rescue a domestic bird for the fourth time this summer on Thursday afternoon.
She had previously captured a rainbow lorikeet, a Senegal parrot and a cockatiel.
Two of the birds have been returned to their owners, but the cockatiel has not been claimed, said Boyd.
The latest call came from Red Deer resident Louise West, who had returned home from vacation a few days earlier to find a green bird with a red beak hiding in one of the apple trees in her yard on Revie Close.
West told the Advocate that she and her husband tried to lure the bird into a cage, but were unsuccessful, possibly because the cage was built for a smaller bird. When they tried to catch the bird, it would squawk and fly out of reach.
The bird seems to have had its wings clipped because it doesn’t fly well, said West.
However, it was flying well enough to avoid capture when Boyd went to the West home to try to catch it on Thursday.
Boyd identified the bird as a rose-ringed parakeet.
She set out a cage with food and water in hope of tempting the bird down from its perch. If that doesn’t work, she said she’ll try a bigger cage. She planned to return today for another try.
An investigation by the Advocate, including an online search as well as calls to veterinary clinics and rescue agencies, did not turn up anyone who was missing a bird.
Staff at the Red Deer and District SPCA said the organization had no records on file of anyone reporting a missing bird.
The SPCA does not accept birds because it does not have the facilities to hold them. Instead, such birds are referred to the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, located west of Spruce View.
Carol Kelly, founder and operator of centre, said she received two calls recently from people who lost their parrots, but both birds were located and returned.
Red Deer resident Norma Farrant, who has sheltered unwanted parrots in the past, said she had not heard recently from anyone who is missing a bird. Farrant said it is not uncommon for people to turn a parrot loose because they are no longer willing or able to look after it.
Known for their longevity, parrots sometimes outlive their owners and can also outlive their welcome, said Farrant.
Boyd said that while she is called from time to time to rescue a domestic bird, it is unusual to get so many calls in one year.
Despite the perils that domestic animals face when freed, some are able to thrive on their own, said Boyd.
So far, none of the exotic birds released in this area in recent years have caused problems for indigenous or feral species. A healthy population of European collared doves has grown from a few that were not recovered after being released during a wedding ceremony a number of years ago, said Boyd.
She is more concerned with the number of domestic cats that are released, because of the number of birds that they kill.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com