Long, Lost ‘Danny Boy’ Macaw Returns Home

March 20, 2008

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – After 15 months, Greg and Susan Vasilakos thought their lost family member was gone for good.

Now they’ve been reunited with their coup-flying macaw, named Danny Boy.

Danny first escaped on Dec. 6, 2006. Immediately following his disappearance, they posted a notice on an online bird lost-and-found Web site, but only recently did it prove helpful.

Danny Boy was found flying free on March 12 in Pasadena, 80 miles from his home.

The macaw was turned into the Pasadena Humane Society, where he was featured on the society’s Web site. In turn, Danny's family was located at their new home in Colorado.

Eager to speak to her bird, Mrs. Vasilakos called the shelter and asked for the bird to be put on the phone.

The “sullen and morose” Danny Boy instantly perked up, fluffed up his feathers and became animated when he heard the woman’s familiar voice.

Throughout the rest of the conversation, he waved his little foot, a signal the macaw learned as part of being offered a treat.

The Vasilakos family will pick up their long, lost Danny Boy after the Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary, in Summerland, Calif., arranges to retrieve the macaw.

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