Missing Parrot Talks Like Widow's Husband

Karen McIntyre's husband died three years ago, but his voice lived on in an African Grey parrot named October.

Now the bird has gone missing, and McIntyre's San Juan Capistrano home feels doubly empty.

“Pepper, be quiet,” her husband, Robert, used to say to his pet dog.

“Pepper, be quiet,” October would repeat, even after Robert died in 2010.

Two weeks ago, the parrot somehow escaped the house. In response, McIntyre issued an APB (all parrot bulletin), posting reward fliers throughout the Mission neighborhoods south of Ortega Highway.

“Their fidelity is like a recording,” McIntyre said of the African Grey species' unique ability to mimic the human voice. “They don’t sound like a parrot. They sound like a recording.”

McIntyre holds out hope October will be found, perhaps in the same way she found him.

Decades ago, the foot-high bird flew into her yard. She took him in and cared for him while her family tracked down the owner. She remembers asking, “Is his name October? He keeps repeating it.”

And it was. October returned to his original family, but McIntyre told them if the bird ever needed a new home, he was welcome with the McIntyres.

Fifteen years ago, the family made that call. They were moving to Idaho and October needed a new home. 

Expert's Advice

Donna Garrou, owner of BirdStuff in Orange, told Patch that if you see October, food may lure him down, but another bird may be more enticing. And, if it’s late afternoon, he likely won’t move on until the next morning.

But Garrou is worried. African Greys don’t join the flocks of wild or escaped South and Central American parrots often seen in the area. And they don’t take kindly to the climate here.

“If someone sees this bird, they need to contact the owner,” she said.

Although African Greys are arguably among the smartest type of birds, as escapees they usually can’t figure their way back home, despite very much wanting to return to their owners, with whom they bond, Garrou said.

Once they’re out of the home environment, they don’t have any landmarks to where they are,” Garrou said.

McIntyre said October is certainly more than a pet.

“It’s like losing another person because he spoke so much,” she said.

Other phrases October may say, besides his name and the shout-out to Pepper, the dog, are: “It’s time to go night night” and what people often say on their end of phone conversation: “Right … hmm … yes … OK.”

If you see October, McIntyre asks you to call her at 949-493-3449.