Sammie the parrot rescued after two cold nights outside

The return of her pet parrot Sammie was the only gift Janice Lowe wanted this Christmas after it flew away from home on Dec. 16.

Lowe says she was taking out her recycling and didn’t realize Sammie was on her shoulder.

"I opened the door, and she flew to my shoulder just as I stepped out onto the deck and she immediately flew to the neighbour’s yard really high up in a tree,” she says.

Lowe tried to catch Sammie, but the bird flew off.

According to Lowe, African Grey’s are not used to the outdoors, especially the winter temperatures, which could have affected Sammie’s ability to fly down to her.

“Another neighbour got a ladder and that startled her, and she flew across the street into the woods,” says Lowe.

Lowe spent hours searching the forest that night, but had no luck. This prompted her post on Facebook, seeking help from her neighbours.

"The community really came together. Some people who were involved in dog rescue and who love birds came out and helped and brought me nets and cages and helped spot because once found you don’t want to take your eyes off them if they move. They can be very, very difficult to spot again,” says Lowe.

Sammie was finally located in a spruce tree a few blocks away. That was when Lowe contacted Liam Gamble with All Green Tree Care.

"I was hoping the bird would stay put even in the time it would take to get there. Kinda uncertain how it would react to the noise and how easily it would spook,” says Gamble, owner and operator of All Green Tree Care.

The first attempt was close, the parrot even ate from Gambles hand, but in the end Sammie took flight again after slipping on an icy branch when reaching to step to Gamble.

Luckily, a few hours later, Sammie was spotted yet again. This was because a community member recognized Sammie’s vocalization.

"She was in a set of pine trees and spruce trees, and she was in the centre one,” says Gamble.

“We picked one that was close to it to climb up first, tie into, repel into and swing across and climb up the one she was in with the hopes of minimizing the shift and impact on the tree. It ended up working out, it was very slow. We got up to her without spooking her at all.”

After two nights away in the cold. Sammie was safely brought home to Lowe.

"It kinda was a miracle, I'm very grateful, very grateful,” she says.

Lowe says Sammie returned home in good health and perhaps a little more cuddly than before.

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