By Christine de Kock
A KINGSVILLE resident is in a flap over a case of mistaken identity.
Meaghan Threlfo and her partner found a tame corella (similar to a parrot) sitting under a bush in Williamstown Rd on 30 March.
She placed notices in Seddon, Kingsville and in local veterinary clinics calling on the owner to reclaim the lost bird.
She said a local man came forward, but Ms Threlfo now believes the man was an imposter and is asking him to return the corella.
In an attempt to have the bird returned, Ms Threlfo has again put up signs in the neighbourhood and wrote to Star asking for help.
“I had been told by a shopkeeper that corellas were often dumped due to their destructive habits, and if I had trouble finding the owner in this case, they could help me find a suitable home.
“Armed with this information, I was very pleased to receive a call from someone claiming to own the bird that same afternoon.
“I had only written “Found: White Bird” on my signs, so when the caller could describe the exact markings of the parrot as well as certain mannerisms, I was pretty sure I had found the owner!
“I didn’t think I would need to get details like contact name and number.”
She said the caller came around that afternoon, straight after work, to be reunited with the bird.
“He called the bird Paulie and the bird was very happy to see him,” Ms Threlfo said.
“The bird put its crest up, whistling, saying ‘hello, hello.’
“He said the bird was lost a week ago and said the bird usually stayed at his grandmother’s in Pilgrim St so he had someone to talk to while he was at work.”
The man offered Ms Threlfo money for the care of Paulie.
“But we said no – he was going to take the bird home in his car without a cage – he didn’t have one because he came straight from work – and we said he could take our cage and return it.”
But two days after the bird’s departure, a man called Craig phoned looking for “Jack”.
Craig not only described the bird correctly, he was able to imitate certain whistles the bird made.
Ms Threlfo said she was devastated to learn of the mistake.“I felt absolutely shattered,” she said.
