The Birdman of Dinton Pastures

Shiva Chohan, 12, Lynnn yardley, countryside ranger at Dinton Pastures, and Nelson the ParrotA prisoner swapped ‘doing bird’ for catching one when he rescued a flyaway parrot with a whistle.

Stephen Reid downed tools at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst, where he was working on day release, to coax Nelson the African Grey out of an apple tree.

The 20-year-old inmate turned parrot whisperer, who was jailed 18 months ago for GBH, used birdsong to rescue the escaped pet.

Mr Reid said: “I just started whistling to him and he started whistling back.

“He flew down out of the tree next to me. I put my hand out and he walked onto it.”

The bird belongs to 12-year-old Shiva Chohan, from Hurst, and had been missing for three days when he was spotted on Tuesday, February 17.

Mr Reid, who is seeing out his sentence at Reading prison, has no knowledge of birdsong but said Nelson was very receptive to his amateur ornithology.

He carries out general maintenance and conservation at the popular park as part of his rehabilitation.

He said: “I just did a normal whistle, but it was quite strange how friendly he was. He was a bit shaken so I wrapped him in a towel.

“He just sat on my shoulder and my knee eating an apple and some peanuts.”

Countryside ranger Lucy Harris first spotted the parrot in the tree and mistook him for a pigeon.

She was amazed at Mr Reid’s affinity with Nelson.

She said: “It was quite extraordinary to watch the young man and the parrot almost have a conversation.

“It was amazing that the more his whistles became like Nelson’s calls, the parrot came further and further down the tree branches, almost like he was gaining Nelson’s trust.

“If he hadn’t been around I’m not sure how we would ever have got him down.”

A quick call to Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Hurst revealed Nelson had been reported missing after flying away from the Chohan family home.

The whole of Hurst had been keeping an eagle eye out for Nelson, with even the postman watching out for him.

Shiva’s father, Keval, said: “Nelson was perched on my shoulder when I was putting the rubbish out. The noise from the bin bags startled him and he took flight.

“We asked everyone around the village to keep an eye out for him so I was overjoyed when we received a phone call to say he had been found safe and well.”

Nelson is unharmed by his escapade and has even managed to widen his bird-calling repertoire.

Mr Chohan said: “Nelson is like part of the family so I am relieved he is home.

He seems to be back to his usual self, and although he has always said the odd word like ‘hello’ he has now started to imitate some of the wild birds he met on his travels.

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped reunite him with us.

“I’m amazed that Nelson managed to stay alive after being missing for several days, especially given the freezing temperature and possible attacks from crows.”

African Grey parrots cost up to £1,000 and Mr Chohan offered the rangers money for his return, but they refused to take any cash.

Mr Reid said: “He asked if there was anything we wanted, and when we said ‘no’ he brought in some cake for us to say thank you.”

His bird-calling skills have been the talk of the Kennet Unit where Mr Reid, who is originally from Portsmouth, is based.

He said: “Everyone knew about it quite soon, they were all sort of praising me when I got back.”

There is another year of his sentence to serve and he says,  so far, he has not had any thoughts about becoming a birdwatcher on his release.

“I have always been in the building trade and working here [in Dinton Pastures] is something I would never have done if I hadn’t been here.

“I quite like wildlife but I haven’t thought about doing anything with birds on the outside!”