Fire crews help rescue parrot that flew the coop
Firefighters draw a crowd as startled bird leads them on chase through tree top
A parrot caused mini-pandemonium when fire crews were called to rescue it from a tree Thursday.
The bird’s owner, friends, passersby and firefighters turned their gaze to the tree canopy trying to spot the blue-fronted Amazon parrot before it was eventually coaxed to safety.
Inca, the 12-year-old leaf-green bird, had become startled and flew from her owner’s shoulder and perched atop the tree near 111 Street and 86 Avenue.
Prior to being rescued, the bird occasionally responded to calls from Anne Wiebe, a friend of the owner, but mostly remained out of sight.
Wesley Cross, who owns Inca, said the bird is usually quite good about sitting on his shoulder.
Two fire trucks were sent to the rescue, said Maya Filipova, spokeswoman for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.
Wiebe shook a yellow and white plastic box that once upon a time held margarine but was now filled with treats that would entice the bird.
It didn’t.
Early on, firefighters in a bucket truck thought they could catch Inca but she simply hopped higher.
After a few minutes of calling for her, she was spotted on a branch and Edmonton’s famous magpies congregated on that very branch cawing. Inca moved a bit more.
At one point the parrot went further up the tree, Filipova said.
Catherine Ouellette, another friend of Inca’s, spotted her in the tree far up on a branch.
“There she is,” she said. “Between those branches.”
This time, to make sure the feathered friend didn’t fly away, Wiebe strapped on fire gear, clutched the box of treats and got into the bucket with the firefighters.
“I’m scared of heights but Inca is important to Wesley,” she said.
People on the ground held their breath as the ladder was manoeuvred into place. Wiebe extended a wooden stick so Inca could hop on it.
Inca chose another branch. Wiebe tried again.
This time Inca hopped on the stick.
Firefighters and Wiebe drew the stick into the bucket carefully. Inca was rescued. People on the ground clapped and cheered.
Cross gave a thumbs-up. “Oh you don’t know what a relief that is,” he said, laughing and smiling.
“My heart just leaped.”