Big-bek birds back with dad

2004-01-27 22:27

Candice Swarts

Cape Town - Found! One parrot with a penchant for brandy and coke, and another with a vocabulary that would match any sailor's.

Piet du Plessis of Parow has had sleepless nights about his two parrots, Polly and Polla, who were both stolen - three months apart - from his house in 2002.

Polly, an African Gray, was stolen out of her cage while Du Plessis was out. A few months later, Polla, a macaw, also disappeared.

Du Plessis said he could not understand how anyone could steal Polly out of her cage as she would listen only to him. He said he thought she must have been drugged.

Polla, he said, had a weakness for brandy and coke.

Du Plessis reported both incidents to police, but, after hearing nothing from them, he gave away his other birds, including his lovebirds, as he was afraid they would end up being stolen.

Identified its swear words

"Then police contacted me and said they had an African Gray parrot.

"First, I had to prove it was mine and write down everything it could do."

Du Plessis did just that and wrote down everything Polly said - including all swear words.

"The next morning police arrived at my house and asked me to please fetch my parrot as its non-stop talking was driving them crazy."

Eventually, about a year after the first bird had disappeared, Du Plessis has got back both his beloved pets.

He was taking no chances, he said, and they both now slept with him at night.

Two suspects, one of them Du Plessis's son, have appeared in court in connection with the theft.

They are expected to appear again on Frebruary 24 - along with Polla, who is to appear as evidence.

- Die Burger