Escaped pet budgie in rescue drama after being seen fleeing down a storm drain
She finally managed to escape but this is a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for
A headstrong and flighty pet budgie who escaped during Storm Boelo has been recaptured after being found hiding down a drain by a roadside in Northampton.
Named Luna, the little blue-grey bird had attempted to fly away from home before but all her previous attempts had been thwarted.
This time, strong winds from the storm blew open a kitchen window, she saw an opportunity, spread her wings and made her first successful bid for freedom.
Like a tiny winged Harry Houdini, Luna has a reputations as an escape artist, having on occasion slipped out of her cage.
Nevertheless, this was the first time she had made it outside and tasted the sweetness of freedom outdoors.
It did not last long, however, and ended in dramatic circumstances around 24 hours after her daring flight through Storm Boelo.
Just a mile or so away from the flat of owner Cimberley Frost, where eleven-month-old Luna had lived up until her escape, a driver noticed a flash of wing by the roadside.
The eagle-eyed motorist alerted the RSPCA and its operatives were scrambled to investigate.
RSPCA Inspector Richard Durant said: “Luna hadn’t gone far when we believe she must have been frightened by something and she hopped down into a drain to hide.
“Luckily, in a bizarre turn of events, a passing driver happened to spot her jump down into the drain and called us for help.
“Luna saw it as a hidey hole, but if she hadn't been seen then no one would have known she was down there.”
Richard was out with trainee animal rescue officer Rosie Cowie on Monday, October 26, when the call came in for them to rescue the budgie who had become stranded in the drain.
Rosie said: “We peered down the drain and there was Luna’s little beak peeking out from a pipe.
“I gently grabbed her and popped her in a pet carrier; my first rescue, and one I certainly won’t be forgetting.”
Luna was taken into RSPCA care and, just days later, her worried owner got in touch.
Animal Rescue Officer Ellie Grindod reunited Luna with a relieved Cimberley, whose home was just a mile from where the budgie had been found.
Cimberley said: “Luna had been watching us eat in the living room when all of a sudden we realised it had gone quiet.
“We went to look for her in the kitchen and noticed the window was open.
"We left it open hoping she might come back and went out to try to find her. We played budgie noises to see if it would help her find her way home but nothing.
“I posted on social media and then someone got in touch to say they’d heard the RSPCA had picked up a budgie nearby so I got in touch and then, thankfully, arranged for Luna to be brought home.
“The house was so quiet without her; she’s always squeaking and talking. We really missed her; now she’s back to being Lady of the house.
“It’s her first adventure, and hopefully her last!”
Luna is now safely back at home, spending her days flying around the flat, taunting family dog Ziggy and demanding to be let out of her cage, or finding her own way out of it.