[gatagato]

Four years after disappearing, a pet parrot has returned home in Torrance, California, having ditched his British accent and switched to Spanish.

Nigel, an African Grey parrot, was reunited with his owner, Darren Chick, last week, the Daily Breeze reported.

It is not clear what happened to Nigel during his absence, although he now frequently calls for someone called Larry, the newspapers report said.

The bird is said to be well though it did bite Mr Chick upon their reunion.

Singing, talking, barking
The Daily Breeze said the bird was found in the garden of Jonathan and Julissa Sperling who own a dog grooming business in Torrance.

Mrs Sperling told the newspaper that when she found Nigel, "he was singing and talking without control... He was barking like the dogs. I'm from Panama and he was saying, 'What happened?' in Spanish."

Whilst looking for the bird's owner, the couple saw an online appeal from Teresa Micco, a local vet whose own African Grey had gone missing.

When she realised Nigel was not her parrot she managed to link his microchip to Mr Chick.

The shocked owner told the newspaper: "He's doing perfect. It's really weird, I knew it was him from the minute I saw him."

This is the fifth parrot reunion facilitated by Ms Micco whose own bird Benjamin has been missing for nine months.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29612043

Darren Chick of Torrance was reunited with his African grey parrot, Nigel, who vanished four years ago. The reunion was brought about by veterinarian Teresa Micco, who tracked down Chick via microchip records.

[kellyhound]

guess someone stole it. good he's back at the rightful owner

[MesaGrande]

They tried, tried and tried to teach Spanish to that birdie... As soon, as they found out that their efforts are almost useless, they let it go at last

[Sharon]

My pal told me about this yesterday, such a funny occurance

[Feirefiz]

Grey Parrots live in couples their whole live and sometimes even die shortly after their partners. Some couples are torn apart when the Grey Parrots are removed from the rainforest and these poor but very intelligent and empathic creatures suffer a slow death with feather ripping and even develop mental illnesses.
Some of them are "lucky" and might be able to find a new partner for live in their new two-legged owner.
Grey Parrots can grow very old - up to over a hundred years. Thewy survive their owners and - eventually - end up sad and struck by their fate.
Grey Parrots as pets is one of the most immoral thing man has ever done to animals.

[Kelseecat65]

Makes me sad that he was lost for so long. I'm sure he is confused as hell.