Missing Bolton parrot reunited with Great Lever owner

Ernie the cockatiel, renowned for his chattiness and proneness to burst into song, had vanished from owner Alison Roberts and his best friend, family dog Lottie, during a storm in Great Lever.

But he survived uninjured in the wild before being found on a public bench in Kearsley and was cared for by an RSPCA foster care his posted his songs online, which Alison luckily spotted.

She said: “It’s an absolute miracle we’ve got him back as I thought something had happened to him and we wouldn’t see him again, it was so upsetting when he went.

“Now he’s back with the love of his life, Lottie.

“As soon as he saw her he reacted; I let him out of his cage and he was sitting on her back and riding around. It was like old times as we’re used to him just following her around everywhere!”

She added: “He’s such a loving and attentive bird.

“He comes out of his cage at night and we spend time interacting with him and treating him as one of the family.

“We’ve had him for two-and-a-half years, it was the first time we’ve had a bird as a pet and we don’t regret it as Ernie’s got such a great personality.”

Ernie seems particularly happy to be reunited with his best friend Lottie.

Ernie the singing cockatiel (Image: RSPCA)

Alison said: “On the night we lost him, Lottie was in the kitchen waiting to go out for a wee and I didn’t see Ernie was on her back as the dog was underneath the table.

“I was calling for him in the nights in the days after in the hope he’d fly back in. 

“When I saw the video I knew straight away it was him.

Ernie had gone missing from his home in Bolton (Image: RSPCA)

“I’ve bought a new cage for him as I was so upset when he disappeared that I got rid of his old one I couldn’t bear to have it in the lounge as it was so heart breaking.

“I can’t thank the RSPCA enough for getting him back to me and the person who found him.

“At the time I didn’t report it, but it’s clear that more people should report birds going missing as this just shows how they can be found and reunited with their owners.”

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Ernie’s foster care had been organised by RSPCA animal rescue officers Helen Chapman and Lee Ferrans, who also helped to get him home to Bolton.

Mr Ferrans said: “It was a really happy sight to see when I brought him into the family’s home in his cage. Lottie's tail was wagging and her nose was right up against Ernie’s cage, while he was dancing side to side frantically, chirping away and touching noses with Lottie.

“It was amazing to see the relationship this bird has with the dog. It was clear that they were both so happy to see each other again.

“Alison was overjoyed and she also made a kind donation to the RSPCA.”

The RSPCA has urged people to take steps to make sure their pet bird can be positively identified, with a microchip or closed ring. 

The charity recommends the use of a parrot passport to help identify a bird if it is ever  lost and found. 

The passport also contains advice for new owners to help keep their birds safe and secure.  

The RSPCA urges people to take steps to make sure their pet bird can be positively identified, with a microchip or closed ring. 

The charity advocates the use of a parrot passport, which will facilitate identification of a bird, should it ever be lost and found. 

The passport also contains advice for new owners to help keep their birds safe and secure.