Hackensack, N.J. -- A pet parrot apparently was so interested in a vacation it flew its coop and traveled nearly 80 miles to enjoy the New Jersey shoreline.
The Bergen County (N.J.) Record said Saturday that Sophia the parrot disappeared nearly a week ago from its home in Cliffside Park, N.J., but suddenly reappeared dozens of miles away relaxing near the beach.
Delivery truck driver Robert Daly spotted the bird Thursday in the Seaside Park borough and it was captured before it could escape.
Daly said when he first saw the macaw next to the road in the tourist locale, he thought it was too relaxed to be real.
"I wasn't sure it was real or fake," the 25-year-old said. "You don't see something like that around here."
The bird was eventually returned to its owner, the Record reported, who said Sophia had lost a little weight during its impromptu vacation.
Submitted by bonnie (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 06:46. *
This story is incorrect. The next day follow-up found Sophia only a short distance from her home. A neighbor had found her. The bird in the story belonged to someone in that area. It was only coincidence that both birds are Blue and Gold macaws. HOWEVER, both people are exceedingly lucky to have gotten their birds back at all. Both caregivers were remiss in making ABSOLUTELY sure that their birds were not in a position to fly away. Their luck is beyond belief.
I am in great dismay that the caregiver of Sophia did not even recognize that she had taken home a bird that was not even hers. She didn't even know it wasn't her bird. How can you not know your own bird?
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Sophia DID NOT fly 80 miles... it was another macaw
This story is incorrect. The next day follow-up found Sophia only a short distance from her home. A neighbor had found her. The bird in the story belonged to someone in that area. It was only coincidence that both birds are Blue and Gold macaws. HOWEVER, both people are exceedingly lucky to have gotten their birds back at all. Both caregivers were remiss in making ABSOLUTELY sure that their birds were not in a position to fly away. Their luck is beyond belief.
I am in great dismay that the caregiver of Sophia did not even recognize that she had taken home a bird that was not even hers. She didn't even know it wasn't her bird. How can you not know your own bird?