MANSFIELD — A pet parrot that literally flew the coop Saturday night was rescued by the Mansfield Fire Department on Sunday.
Station 1 received a phone call Sunday about the bird that had sought refuge high in a tree on Shady Lane.
Ernie, an 8-year-old parrot with his own Instagram page, flew away from home Saturday around 9 p.m., fleeing the residence not far from Park Avenue West.
“After searching throughout the night and morning, the family finally located their feathered escape artist around 11 a.m.,” the MFD said in a social media post Sunday afternoon.
Online bird experts said parrots have a strong natural urge to seek high ground and cover when they feel scared or confused. The bird was reportedly about 40 feet high off the ground when he was found.
According to owner Anna Cottone’s social media posts, Ernie is about 12 inches tall and is bright green with an orange beak. The family made several Facebook posts about the wayward parrot on Saturday and Sunday.
“After trying everything they could think of with approximately a dozen neighbors working together — climbing the tree, offering food and even using a stick — the family’s last hope was the fire department,” the MFD said.
Cottone joined firefighters in reaching Ernie and convincing him it was time to come home.
“For our crew, it became a perfect opportunity for ladder training while helping reunite a family with their adventurous parrot,” the MFD said.
“We’ve had our share of duck and geese rescues from storm drains over the past few years, but today we added a parrot rescue to the list,” the department said.
(Below are social media photos posted Sunday afternoon by the Mansfield Fire Dept.)
