$12,000 Exotic Bird Theft Leaves Breeder In A Flap
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday September 12, 2001
Anthony James is in a flap after discovering his pricey feathered friends missing from their cage.
The Unanderra man's 10 Indian ringneck parakeets - worth $12,000 - flew the coop some time over the weekend ... but they had help.
Also missing are 25 eggs, potentially worth $20,000, and Mr James' breeding boxes and seed dishes.
``Whoever pinched them knew I was breeding," an angry Mr James, 25, said yesterday.
``You couldn't see the birds or any of the equipment unless you knew what you were looking for. If you walked down the backyard you'd think it was just a garden shed."
Mr James said he left home at 7am on Saturday for a night in Ulladulla and returned on Sunday about 2pm to find the exotic birds missing.
``I've had them for about four years. They were all colours, some silver, grey, green ones and pastel blue ones which are pretty rare in the Illawarra," he said.
``They're about the size of a Rosella but they're more shiny and have longer tails. The males have rings around their necks but the females don't."
Mr James urges anyone who spots the birds or is offered a cheap sale to contact Lake Illawarra police on 4295 2699.
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury
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