My Dad made the local news...

Gypsy-Rhiannon · #1 04-12-2006, 07:10 AM

http://www.northamptontoday.co.uk/Vi...icleID=1438132

21 parrots stolen in raids on garden aviary

A BIRD owner has had 21 of his pet parrots stolen in two raids on an aviary in his Northampton garden.
Ray Kirton discovered 12 birds – a variety of different breeds – missing from the aviary in Harborough Road, Whitehills, at around 6.30am yesterday.
It comes just a week after another nine birds were taken and Mr Kirton believes the birds may now have been sold on.
There are fears that restrictions on importing parrots because of bird flu could lead to a rise in similar thefts.
The 63-year-old builder said: "It is a real kick in the stomach. I have kept birds since I was a kid.
"All in all, it amounts to about £5,000 of birds. I think they may be sold on, because it seems the thieves may have come back.
"I'm having my birds moved to friends' houses now, so it doesn't happen again."
The birds taken on Monday night were two pairs of Derbyans, and pairs of blue-fronted amazons, mealy Amazons, African grey parrots and white-capped pionus birds.
The thieves also took their nest boxes and stole clothing off Mr Kirton's washing line, which he believes was used to throw over the parrots to make it easier to take them.
Mr Kirton said: "They just got into the garden over a wall and fence and got to the birds.
"The aviary is at the bottom of the garden, about 100 yards from the house. They may have made noise, but I don't know if anyone would have heard them."
The birds taken last week were two pairs of black-crested conulahs, pairs of black-headed caiques, gala cockateils and a crimson-billed conyulah.
There are fears that the birds could have been stolen because restrictions on parrot imports due to bird flu are making them harder to come by and more expensive.
A spokesman for the Parrot Society UK said: "We would expect the restrictions on importing parrots to have an impact on the number of stolen parrots. It is supply and demand."