Parrot owner uses cherry picker to rescue escaped pet from tree

A cherry picker driver helped lead a daring rescue mission as he lifted a parrot owner up to pluck her pet to safety from atop a 30ft tree.

The parrot, named Cody, escaped from his home in Dalgety Bay, Fife, at 11pm on Tuesday and perched himself on a roof for 14 hours.

Cherry picker operator James Stewart, 54, was called upon to lead a rescue mission after attempts by emergency services failed to bring the stubborn bird down.

Firefighters attempted to use a jet of water to scare the animal down – but only resulted in sending him flying from the rooftop to a nearby tree.

James saved the day when he lifted Cody’s owner to the top of the tree using a cherry picker, and eventually the parrot flew onto his keeper’s shoulder.

James, from Kirkcaldy, said: “The funny thing is I was in Edinburgh on a road job with Transport Scotland.

“I got a text from my boss to go and rescue a parrot in Dalgety bay, Fife.

“I thought it was quite a weird one. I was very surprised, it’s something I’ve never done before.

“When I turned up, the fire brigade had already been there, and tried to get it to fly down with the hose.

“It was explained to me that the parrot had been sat on the roof all night then moved to the tree as it was getting chased from birds.

“The owner had sat out all night to keep an eye on it, but eventually got chased away by crows.

“The parrot wouldn’t budge.

“It kept talking to us while he was in the trees, squawking away just the thing.

“The owner eventually said to me ‘will you take me up on the cherry picker? I’ll get him to come to me’.

“It was a strange situation, and I was just nervous that it would fly away again.

“As she was taken up on the tree she was talking away to the parrot, and eventually it flew into her hands.

“The owner was so happy to be reunited.