Parrot bolts out the door, over the shed

If you find a large grey bird that rings like a cell phone or barks like a dog, Teresa Olive would like you to call.

The bird will be Scooter, who made a break for freedom last week.

The 15-inch African Grey parrot flew out the open front door, over the backyard shed and disappeared as his stunned owners watched helplessly.

Scooter, 4, lives with Teresa and Thomas Olive in their north Suffolk home and is generally content to fly around the house. Two weeks ago he made another dash out the front door but got only as far as the neighbor's yard.

"He's just not used to flying far," Teresa Olive said.

She frets Scooter should have had his wings clipped earlier. Uneasy with doing the job herself, she decided to find a vet who specialized in birds. But Scooter had more immediate plans.

"He's probably looking for a girlfriend," she said.

The family hung posters around the neighborhood and in the village of Driver. They placed newspaper ads and are combing the neighborhood, but have no idea how far Scooter can fly.

He relates well to humans - and other parrots - but generally not to wild birds.

With dark grey wings, a pale grey rump and a red tail, Scooter should be easy to spot. He greets humans easily, usually with "Hello," and is a fool for French fries, Olive said.

If you spot Scooter, he can be lured with peanuts or grapes and generally will perch on a human's hand to chat. Then please call the Olives at (757) 465-5765.

They miss him.

Phyllis Speidell, 757-222-5556 or

Phyllis.Speidell@pilotonline.com