Family seeks missing green parakeet named Frootloop, greatly missed by best bud Bob

A Cochrane family still hopes to find their missing parakeet named Frootloop, who flew away nearly a year ago, abandoning his adoptive sibling, Bob the African grey parrot.

"Bob would literally rant and pace back and forth and say, 'Frootloop, no, no, no, flying,'" ownerEvelyn vanHoevetold the Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday. "Soshe really missed her buddy."

Frootloop, a chatty green Alexandrine parakeet with a red beak, escaped his Cochrane home last year and hasn't been seen since.

But just this spring, his family received a strange tip that he may have flown through an openwindow in Red Deer and landed on a woman's shoulder.

'No clue who this person is'

Van Hoevehad gone with her husband to a pet store in Red Deer to view a baby Alexandrine, which she says are not popular in Alberta. The clerk told them a customer recently said she had kept the parrot after its surprise entry into her home.

"I have no clue who this person is," van Hoeve said. "Wedecided, 'Let's advertise in the paper.'"

The only details they have are the woman was inthe Petlandstore and was looking to have the bird's nails clipped.

And for the record, they're not sure Frootloop is a "he." They've just used that pronoun since he was a wee bird.

The couple understands if whoever found the bird wants to keep it, though they and Bob would like their friend back. At minimum, van Hoeve would like to know that Frootloop is OK.

Frootloopcame into their life when van Hoeve's daughter asked for a parrot. The mother hesitated but thought it might keep her daughter too busy to date.

However, van Hoeve's plan backfired and her daughter did find a boyfriend. Van Hoevealleges the boyfriend visited one day and made the fateful decision to openthe back door.

"The bird was placed in a place near the door and, unfortunately, Frootloop got spooked and ended up out on the deck," van Hoeve said. "And from the deck, he flew onto the roof, and from the roof, he was gone."

• Hear more about missing Frootloop and his friendship with Bob

The family searched for months, even enlisting strangers to call for Frootloopon their walks, but with no luck, until the Red Deer tip.

If you've seen the friendly green bird, the family asks you contact them at403-333-1964 or avhoeve@gmail.com. They're offering a $1,000 reward for his return.

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With files from Danielle Nerman and the Calgary Eyeopener.