A dozen sun conures escape from aviary
Ms Lizelle de Beer noticed a man with a long pole and net trying to catch birds perching high up in trees behind Pongola Street
SECUNDA – A dozen juvenile sun conures (sun parakeets) turned into tiny feathered Houdinis and flew their coop on Sunday morning, 13 January.
Mr Daniel de Beer breeds exotic birds, including sun conures and has an aviary at his home in Pongola Street, Secunda.
The green and yellow flyers decided to make a run for it when the latch where their water bowl is inserted, did not properly close.
Mr De Beer said the clever animals escaped soon after he gave them fresh water.
“The 12 birds are all still young. They were removed from their mothers about three weeks ago and I was preparing to take them to the vet for check-ups and to determine their sexes.”
He estimated their collective value at about R30 000.
Mr De Beer’s daughter, Ms Lizelle de Beer, noticed a man with a long pole and net trying to catch birds perched high up in trees behind Pongola Street.
She was not aware of the great escape at the time and only realised later that this man might possibly have been trying to net her father’s birds. He might have helpful information on their whereabouts.
Mr De Beer spotted seven of the birds huddled together in the trees in the same area later that day and rushed to collect a ladder, but they had flown off by the time he returned.
“This is so sad. I hope they survive out there, because they are used to being fed,” said Mr De Beer.
He believes the birds will therefore be attracted to environments where there are other bird cages.
The birds have been ringed with the breeder’s number on it. This number is DB21.
According to an online profile of sun conure birds by The Spruce Pets, these parakeets are known to be extremely loud, capable of emitting ear-piercing screams.
At maturity, a sun conure is a bright orange and yellow bird with traces of green and blue.
Juvenile sun conures are not as colourful as the adults. This is apparently a natural defense mechanism in the wild.
Their first feathers are olive green, but changes to a mixture of yellowish-orange at around six months of age.
Full-colour plumage can be observed at about one year of age.
Sun conures have black beaks and feet, and characteristic white patches around each eye.
Mr De Beer asked that anyone who spots these birds contact him on 082 497 2466.
