Cambridge woman asking for help locating missing African Grey Parrot

A Cambridge woman is asking for the public’s help in locating her missing Congo African Grey Parrot.

The 15-year-old bird called “Smithers” has been missing since Sep. 22. He was last seen in the Christopher Drive and Myers Road area of the city.

He is described as being about two lbs., with different tones of grey and he would have a neon red tail.

Claudia Vujanic told CityNews Kitchener in an interview that the parrot is very important to her and her family.

“He’s like a child to me,” she said. “He’s 15. They live very long lives, up to 80 years. I thought he was going to be with me and grow old with me. I thought I was going to have him forever. It’s that kind of pet that you will have for a very long time.”

Vujanic said Smithers was abused by a previous owner and he was rescued by someone who entrusted Vujanic as the new owner.

“He suffered for 10 years. He was abused and found by a wonderful lady who rescued him. She worked with him for a few months until she entrusted him with me. These past four years, he’s been with me. I’ve been the only one that he’s bonded with.”

Vujanic said the bird’s a very intelligent and have awareness of what’s happening to them.

“He will be very frightened,” she said. “I know he wants to come home. With me knowing this, it’s a struggle for me. It really hurts.”

She said that there have been reports of areas where the bird has been seen but nobody has been able to catch him. The main area he has been heard in has been the same area he went missing near Myers Road and Christopher Drive. However, she said there have also been noises heard in other areas of the city.

“Some people have also heard him in different areas,” she said. “Some people have said in Churchill Park and others near Dundas Street [in Cambridge]. He has never flown before so his wings aren’t very strong. Experts said they usually stay not too far from home but we don’t know. It was quite windy for a few days when he went missing so the wind could have carried him.”

Vujanic adds that he also could be hiding somewhere.

“If he’s scared, he could be hiding. He likes hiding in boxes, he could be in someone’s shed. Right now, I have no idea where he is. I’ve been looking and I’m hoping that someone sees him and someone can catch him. If they do catch him, if they can take him to a humane society or a veterinarian.”

She said her fear is that someone will catch him and try to keep him because she believes he’s such a beautiful bird.

“I know that’s not going to be a very good end for him because I know he won’t be happy,” she said. “If someone has him, I beg that person to bring him back home because I will only have to thank that person for taking care of him because it’s cold outside. I just wish someone would bring him home to me.”

Vujanic added that she has contacted the Cambridge Humane Society and has had helped from a lot of people in the area to help try and find him.

“I’ve asked all veterinarians, humane society’s pet stores, all over our community. I have asked for help from everybody. I have to say that I am overwhelmed by the kindness that people have shown trying to help me find him. Many people go out for walks trying to look for him. They see me with my bird backpack in case I catch him.”

She said that Smithers is a food-driven bird and likes his treats.

“He particularly likes sunflower seeds, walnuts, any bird seed,” she said.

She said if you see him, you can call him by name calmly and he may approach you.

“If he comes to you, perfect. If you have a towel or something with you that you can wrap him with then fantastic. You can call the humane society or animal control because they know how to catch him.”

She said that he’s the kind of bird that if you see him outdoors, you would know that he doesn’t belong there.

“He’s incredibly big, he makes very distinct noises. They are incredible. He mimics a lot of machinery, he mimics people’s voices. When he speaks, he sounds like a man. He sounds exactly like a person.”

She said that given the fall weather we are currently experiencing that she is sure that he is not comfortable and would like to see him safely return home.