How do you get to Dunree? Don't ask me - Askim!
A parrot who left its owners 'sick' with worry when it flew away from home last week - has been found perched at Dunree Fort in Buncrana
Askim the parrot ruffled a few feathers when he flew the coop after his owner Andrea Killen left the patio doors open in her Maydown home.
The two year-old African Grey flew a sensational 30 miles by road from his home (of course the distance as the crow, or should we say, parrot, flies is significantly shorter) to Dunree on the outskirts of Buncrana.
By a stroke of luck, Andrea Killen's neighbour who had gone to Dunree Fort for a meeting spotted him on the wall.
Ms. Killen, who works as a care assistant for people with special needs, told the 'Journal' this was Askim's first solo trip away from home.
She and her family were taking advantage of last week's good weather, barbecuing in the garden, with the patio doors open.
The wily bird, who is normally very well behaved, saw his chance and flew away.
The family were then led on quite the wild goose chase, searching their local area for any sign of him.
They had almost given up hope of seeing him again when lo and behold, Askim turned up at Dunree Fort on Wednesday morning.
Employee Terry Tedstone was the first to discover the adventurous parrot on the premises.
But events were to take an even stranger turn when Tommy Delaney came to the museum for a meeting. On his first ever visit to Dunree, Mr. Delaney was surprised to meet one of his familiar acquaintances - he instantly recognised the mystery bird as the pet of his neighbour, Andrea Killen.
Rather strange
It's rather strange that Askim ever embarked on his adventure as, going by his catchphrases, he is something of a homebird, who is devoted to his owner.
He constantly asks "Where's Andrea?" and likes to squawk "Love you, babes!".
He is also a very much a creature of routine, described as being "like an alarm clock every morning."
Ms. Killen was understandably astonished and delighted when she received a phone call from Dunree, but she soon discovered it was no cheep joke.
"You'd have thought I'd won the Lotto" she quipped.
Her beloved pet was seemingly unruffled by the reunion, greeting his owner with a simple "hello!".
Chatty bird
And the chatty bird is not uttering a peep about what he got up to during his week as a freebird; some suggestions are that there was a hen party he had to get to, while others thought he probably spent his time at the coast waiting for a pirate ship to come along.
The daring bird is safely back where he belongs now, tired, but unharmed, and all we can do is Askim to wait a while before rattling any more cages!
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 29 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
