If there is only one thing we know about parrots, it is that they love to talk. Nothing is more delightful than having an entire, seemingly-intelligent conversation with a bird. Parrots have captured our hearts with their quirky behavior and wacky antics. This parrot, in particular, has a big personality.
Diego is a beautiful bird who is mainly colored in green and yellow feathers. He was born in 1976 and has lived with his owner, Susan Baird, for the past two decades. Susan met Diego when one of her friends gave him as a gift, and the two have been best friends ever since. Diego loves Susan, and he can’t stand when she is away.
Over time Diego developed some strange habits. He is accustomed to meow like a cat, bark like a dog, and “[say] quite a few things,” Susan shared with Today. “He’s very personable.”
Recently Diego has started doing something else as well – calling out “help me,” often in situations where he doesn’t really need help. The parrot hates to be away from his owner, and he often shouts this phrase in situations where she is away from him – even when he is perfectly safe.
Once, as Susan hosted a group of women, she left Diego in the other room. Susan hardly noticed the calls of “help me” until they were pointed out to her by one of her guests. Sure enough, the only problem was that the parrot was lonely.
When Susan had to leave town for two weeks, she left her daughter in charge of caring for the plucky parrot. He was looked after and well fed, but he couldn’t stop missing his mom. Finally, Diego heard someone approach the door. Instantly his thoughts were of Susan. “Help me!” he screamed.
The man at the door was Lee Purdy, a UPS driver making a delivery. “I wasn’t sure what to think at first,” Lee told Today. He was almost certain the voice was coming from a parrot, but the man couldn’t leave when the possibility remained that someone needed help. Instead, he called the police.
Officers arrived on the scene and entered the home. They chuckled when they saw the friendly parrot, safe and sound, looking for attention. “Sure enough it was Diego the parrot yelling for help,” Sergeant Brian Jensen recalled. “Nobody was in distress. Diego was fine.”
The situation left a smile on the face of everyone involved. The officers were glad no one was hurt, and they could not stop laughing at the idea of the parrot crying out to get attention.
Diego might have to deal with the stress of missing Susan every once in a while, but overall this parrot leads a pretty good life. This story reminds us how lucky we are to have our wacky, lovable pets.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
