€300 reward for parrot's return
by Deirdre Verney Updated: Wednesday, 4th January, 2012 5:30pm
An Athlone resident has offered a €300 reward this week for the safe return of his beloved pet, an African Grey parrot who went missing before Christmas.
Worried owner Gintaras Peckauskas, who originally comes from Lithuania, but has been living in Athlone for the past eight years, made the appeal after the female parrot called Maya flew off the balcony of his apartment at Ankers Court on the Dublin Road three days before Christmas.
"I want her back. I will give a reward of €300. I'm asking people to look out for her in the Dublin road area or other areas of the town," Gintaras told the Westmeath Independent this week after extensive searches for the bird who has a distinctive orange ring on her leg has so far yielded nothing.
"She is used to being in the house. Maya is not used to trying to find food as she's a family pet," he added, warning people to be careful and not to go too close to the parrot if they spot her, as she may bite if she is hungry. The parrot, who is a year and half old and speaks three languages English, Russian and Lithuanian, was perched on her owner's shoulder when he went out on the balcony of his apartment before Christmas. She later flew off for the first time and hasn't been seen since. Gintaras said his parrot, which is native to the rainforests of West and Central Africa and is considered one of the most intelligent and social birds by experts, likes whistling and mimicking what they hear so someone in the area may see or hear her in the Athlone area. Anyone who spots the bird is asked to call 087 6685720.
