A routine patrol launch turned into a rescue mission this week when Deputy McBride of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit spotted a lonely cockatiel at the dock. The bird turned out to be Kiwi, one of two cockatiels that escaped from a home near 67th Street West and Manatee Avenue West on August 5. The pair flew out an open door right before a thunderstorm rolled in, and strong winds carried Kiwi about five miles west to the Marina dock where the deputy found her.
Kiwi has been safely reunited with her owner, but the search for her companion, Kaiju, is still on. Authorities believe Kaiju may be somewhere in the Bradenton Beach area, and they’re asking residents and visitors to keep an eye out. If you see a cockatiel that looks lost, tips can be directed to the Lost Pet Hotline. It’s a good reminder that storms can affect our pets in unexpected ways, even birds that would normally never leave home.
Bird owners know how fast a door can swing open in a gust of Florida wind. If you’re in the Bradenton Beach area, now’s a great time to double check your screened lanai and keep your own feathered friends safe. And if you spot a little gray bird with a sunny face, it just might be Kaiju. Have you ever had a pet escape during a storm? Tell us how you handled it in the comments below.
