'My parrots are the squawk of the town'

BIRD BATH: Stuart Romain, 39, takes a shower with eclectus parrot Taz. Picture by Len CoplandFOR one Yeovil resident, man's best friend is not four legged and furry – but feathered, flying and very chatty.

Stuart Romain, 39, a car salesman at the town's Peugeot dealership, does almost everything with a parrot in tow.

He currently has two birds – Coco, a cockatoo, and Taz, an Eclectas parrot, which he has fostered through the charity Birdline parrot rescue.

They have their own room in his Yeovil house and sometimes greet passers-by from a tree in front of his house.

DRIVE TIME: Yeovil parrot fosterer Stuart Romain with cockatoo Coco on his way to work.He takes them shopping, to work and even shares a shower with them when their feathers need a wash.

The sight of Mr Romain with a parrot on his shoulder at the local convenience store makes a surreal but familiar sight to staff and other customers.

Mr Romain said the birds thrive on the company: "Some of the large birds make very good companions – they are called companion birds."

His interest in parrots rubbed off from his father who served in the Army in the far east and later kept them as Mr Romain grew up. He has owned numerous birds but his current pets have come from the Birdline charity.

Some breeds can live for up to 70 years but their longevity can cause problems for their welfare – especially when they outlive their owners.

Mr Romain said: "Birds are rescued every day. Some people call the charity because they can't cope.

"In some cases they inherit a bird from an elderly relative who has passed away, but the bird has still got another 20 years of life left. They are an exotic bird that should be treated with the greatest of respect – they are not meant to be in this country."

Birds sometimes have to be rescued from homes where they are mistreated or neglected and are initially placed in a "safe house". The charity then seeks a longer term host to care for the birds.

COFFEE BREAK: Stuart Romain and cockatoo Coco.A stressful experience at a former home has left Coco with a condition which causes him to pluck out his own feathers – giving him a scrawny appearance.

Mr Romain said he will care for the birds for as long as they live – although the charity does take back foster birds if their carers are unable to continue to look after them.

Mr Romain and other members of the charity will be at the Pets at Home store in Yeovil on Sunday, October 30, offering advice on caring for parrots and more information about the charity.

He said: "Our main aim is to make people aware of the lifelong partnership that needs to be undertaken when a bird like this comes into our environment."

More information can be found at www.birdline.org.uk