Errant parrot captured after six days on the lam

The Lake Oswego Review, Jul 30, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Sebastian, a scarlet Macaw, was safely at home after six days in a tree and a harrowing rescue. Many people in the Westridge neighborhood were involved in saving Sebastian from his ill-fated flight.

SUBMITTED PHOTO SHEILA HORNOCKER

Sebastian, a scarlet Macaw who was being bird-sat by Shiela and Bill Hornocker, flew from their Lake Oswego home in the Westridge neighborhood on July 16 and found himself stuck 60 feet up in a neighboring Douglas fir.

Despite cajoling from Sheila, Sebastian refused to come down or be quiet. His response to all who tried to talk him from the limb was a noisy “Hello, cracker.”

The Hornockers contacted Irene Thorensen, a bird expert from 9-1-1 Parrot Alert in Gresham, who was convinced the only way to bring Sebastian down was to soak his feathers so he couldn’t fly. Flying is a learned behavior for most Macaws, and something they will not do naturally. Encouraging Sebastian to fly down would most likely be in vain.

For a 50-foot spray to reach the bird, the operation required the Lake Oswego Fire Department which accommodated with a truck and three firemen.

But before the LOFD could dampen his wings, Sebastian got wind of the plan and flew to another tree a block away. He stayed there for two days.

While the children of the neighborhood did their best to talk Sebastian down with bribes of food and water, the unflappable bird continued on to a tree at the home of Linda Graybeal where he stayed for another three days.

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