If you see a bright red parrot flying through the tree canopy of metro Atlanta, your eyes may not be deceiving you.
An 8-year-old parrot named Hoopidoopi has been missing from Frances Rodriguez’s Brookhaven home since April 12, prompting her to lead a wide-ranging search for her beloved bird.
“She is very missed,” Rodriguez said. “She’s like a child to me.”
Hoopidoopi flew out of the home in the Mill Creek community last month after Rodriguez opened up a garage door to air out a smoky kitchen. Since then, she has posted more than 500 “missing parrot” flyers around her community, and is offering a $2,000 reward for the person who finds her.
Rodriguez still has hope though, since she believes the parrot has been spotted in the Brookhaven area over the past month. Several neighbors have called Rodriguez to tell her they saw the bird; with her bright red feathers, she’s pretty hard to miss.
A security guard even spotted Hoopidoopi near the entrance to the Marist School on Ashford Dunwoody Road, Rodriguez said.
“She’s just a very, very sweet little loving bird,” Rodriguez said. “I need to get her back. She needs to come home.”
And in case you’re wondering, no, Hoopidoopi does not speak English or repeat words like parrots stereotypically do. As a female eclectus parrot, she doesn’t vocalize very well, and instead mostly makes odd squawking noises. Eclectus parrots are native to the Solomon Islands and the areas around it in the Pacific Ocean.
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Rodriguez thinks that someone might already have Hoopidoopi, if the bird wandered near their home.
“She needs to eat, she needs some shelter. She’s going to eventually get down to somebody,” said Rodriguez, who has had another parrot, Rabone, for 14 years.
But if you happen to spot Hoopidoopi, you should remain calm and slowly approach her. You can also attract her with food. A pillowcase is a safe way to cover and capture a parrot, before immediately taking it to an avian veterinarian.
Anyone who sees Hoopidoopi or has other information should contact Rodriguez at 817-909-9234 or frances-rodriguez@att.net.
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