Family appeal for help to find Paula the Polish-speaking parrot

AN appeal has been made in Limerick for help in finding a missing parrot who speaks only Polish.

The African grey parrot, named Paula, made her bid for freedom on New Year’s Eve when her Polish family brought her into the back garden. She hasn’t been seen since.

Paula has silver-grey plumage with a red tail.

According to her owners, the Swiatek family, she can give details if asked of her owners – but not in English.

“She speaks well, but unfortunately she only understands Polish,” said Dad, Adam.

“She knows our names and the names of the children and has a lot of phrases which she uses.

“In the house, we used to allow her fly around and she was only put in a cage at night when we went to bed. My wife brought her out into the garden on New Year’s Eve and she flew off and we haven’t seen her since then. The children are very upset that she has gone missing.

“They loved her and she used stay by them when they sat down to do their homework.”

The Swiatek family live at Thornberry, Raheen and the children, Eryk, aged 10, and Eliza, 8, attend St Paul’s Primary School in Dooradoyle.

Adam, a former Dell worker, came to Ireland five years ago.

He bought Paula for €1,700. She is now just over two years old.

“They are a very expensive bird. She is a great pet and I hope somebody may find her and contact us. We miss her a lot. Paula is very tame and great fun. She talks a lot in Polish,” he said.

On New Year’s Eve, his wife Marzena walked out into the back garden with Paula on her shoulder.

Outdoor excursions weren’t unusual for the bird and she never tried to fly away.

“She answers to the name Paula and when we would come down in the morning, she would say ‘good morning’ and when being put into her cage at night, ‘good evening’.

“Her other favourite greetings included ‘I love you’, ‘come to mam’, ‘daddy loves me’ and she also knows our names and the names of the children. She likes to sit on our shoulders and have a chat.”

* Anybody with information about Paula the parrot should contact Adam on 085-7439450.