Driver spots escaped pet budgie disappearing into roadside drain
A driver’s chance sighting led a trainee RSPCA rescuer to Luna, who had escaped through a kitchen window in Northampton.
A pet budgie that escaped through a storm-blown window was rescued from a roadside drain a mile from home after a passing driver spotted her hopping inside.
Eleven-month-old Luna had flown from Cimberley Frost’s flat in Northampton when strong winds following Storm Boelo forced open a kitchen window. Her rescue became trainee Animal Rescue Officer Rosie Cowie’s first call-out success.
Rosie was with RSPCA Inspector Richard Durant on October 26 when they were alerted to the stranded bird. Richard asked her to retrieve Luna from the drain.
Rosie said: “We peered down the drain and there was Luna’s little beak peeking out from a pipe.
“I gently grabbed her and popped her in a pet carrier; my first rescue, and one I certainly won’t be forgetting.”
Richard said they believed Luna had taken shelter after being frightened by something. Without the driver’s chance sighting, her hiding place could have gone unnoticed.
“Luckily, in a bizarre turn of events, a passing driver happened to spot her jump down into the drain and called us for help.
“Luna saw it as a hidey hole, but if she hadn’t been seen then no one would have known she was down there.”
Luna was taken into RSPCA care. Days later, Cimberley contacted the charity after hearing that a budgie had been found nearby, and Animal Rescue Officer Ellie Grindod reunited them.
Cimberley said: “Luna had been watching us eat in the living room when all of a sudden we realised it had gone quiet.
“We went to look for her in the kitchen and noticed the window was open.
“We left it open hoping she might come back and went out to try to find her. We played budgie noises to see if it would help her find her way home but nothing.
“I posted on social media and then someone got in touch to say they’d heard the RSPCA had picked up a budgie nearby so I got in touch and then, thankfully, arranged for Luna to be brought home.
“The house was so quiet without her; she’s always squeaking and talking. We really missed her; now she’s back to being Lady of the house.”
At home, Luna spends her days flying around the flat, taunting the family dog, Ziggy, and demanding to be let out of her cage or finding her own way out. Despite that reputation for escaping, she had never previously managed to get outside.
Cimberley added: “It’s her first adventure, and hopefully her last!”