The thefts are aimed at a global black market in rare exotic birds.

This winter, thieves crawled through windows to get into two households in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. They used pillowcases to bag birds in lightning-quick break-ins.

“It’s clearly part of a big racket,” said Yvon Girard, who lost a $4,000 Amazon parrot named Tommy and a macaw named Sonny, along with three purebred chihuahuas.

“It’s unbelievable. They could have cleaned out the house, but they didn’t even bother searching.”

Parrots often fetch prices from $1,500 to $3,000 and, unlike most consumer goods, the birds don’t lose their value, according to Michael Illian, bird manager at the Menagerie Pet Shop in Toronto, which has been hit by bird thieves twice in recent years.

Larger parrots can easily live past 50 years of age. The rarest species fetch up to $20,000. Details here.

Treat a pet kindly, and it will love you for who you are. He/she will never judge you for your looks or shyness. He will depend on you to keep him alive. He will be there to comfort and play with you or make you laugh when you are having a bad day. He will shower you with love and reduce your loneliness if you have any.

Some pets require walks (the five listed here can all be taken for walks). For many people, a pet is like their security blanket or their guardian that they can take almost anywhere with them. The fact that their companion is with them in public can help reduce some anxious feelings. By having a pet with you, you have a good conversation starter right there, especially with like minded people. Don’t be surprised if someone stops to compliment your critter.

Pets are a great way to meet like minded, friendly people on forums or even clubs. Just remember, always research any pet before buying one. They all need certain housing, diet, and daily interaction time. A pet can be a big commitment.

Here are five great pet choices to help you with your anxiety:

Pet #5: Guinea Pig

The potential of a guinea pig as a pet is overlooked by many. If kept as an indoor companion and given attention daily, their true loving and funny nature will shine through. Guinea pigs communicate with their owners through various sounds, including purring, and many love to be cuddled and petted. A well socialised guinea pig is sure to brighten anyone’s day.

Other pets are listed here

But Jasper, the nine-year-old African Grey parrot, unexpectedly took flight from the front garden of their Eastern Green home on Sunday afternoon.

His owner Terry Scofield, 55, of Martin Close, says he is a bit of a mummy’s boy at heart and likes to be by her side otherwise he gets stressed.

The exotic bird recently had his wings clipped so he cannot fly far and Terry and husband Ken, 53, felt it is safe to enough to allow Jasper the freedom of the house.

On Sunday he was in the garden with Terry when he became alarmed at the sudden sound of the slamming of a car door. More details can be read here.

Where’s your Polly gone? Mail, February 6

It was originally thought the bird, which is worth hundreds of pounds, belonged to somebody in the area but it has since emerged that it could be one of several similar birds living wild that have been regularly spotted in Ward Jackson Park.

Several readers have contacted the Mail over the past few days claiming they have spotted up to half a dozen similar birds nesting in the popular park, and RSPCA officers have promised to try and visit the area to ensure the parrots are safe and well.

The parrot that sparked the story remains in the care of staff at the RSPCA centre in Great Ayton. More information here.

Under My Wing is a refuge for unwanted, surrendered, abused and unloved parrots and exotic birds. “It acts as a permanent refuge,” Ashfield explained, “unlike a regular shelter, our birds can possibly someday be adopted or can simply remain in the refuge.” Foster homes for exotics are never an option because of the stress factor it produces in the birds. “Sudden changes or traumatic happenings can create a screaming, biting and out-of-control bird,” Ashfield said. Out-of-control birds usually end up as abused birds confined to cages 24/7 or banished to basements or horribly, in one case, a closet.

For now, Ashfield and her family share their home with 60 cockatiels, cockatoos, Macaws, doves, finches and parakeets. Since the organization’s inception in 2005, the refuge has housed 82 birds at one time. Cages are spacious, with many stimulating bird toys and activities. Water is clean and monitored throughout the day and with the help and input of the Paterson Bird Shop and a board certified avian veterinarian from Parsippany, Ashfield provides healthy diets and bird health care. In her safe and comfortable home. The birds can interact with the family and form safe, trusting relationships. “Nobody ever stays in their cage,” Ashfield said. “It’s always playtime.” Her devotion to her charges is obvious as she fluffs, hugs, interacts and even dances with the birds. Holding a striking white cockatoo, Ashfield said, “I named him Lance because he loves to dance,” and she demonstrates by encouraging Lance to boogie, as only a cockatoo can. Read here

These birds have been living in Hyde Park for more than 30 years. No one knows exactly how the wild parakeets arrived in Chicago, but it seems they are here to stay.

Mark Spreyer, a biologist who directs the Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington, has written about the monk parakeet and led tours for people interested in seeing the exotic birds. He told Parrot Chronicles the monk parakeets “chose the right place to put up a colony. Everyone there really likes them. It’s a really diverse neighborhood and I think there’s a kind of multiculturalism connection between the people and the birds. They fascinate people,” he said.

Stephen Pruett-Jones, associate professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago, will give a lecture on the exotic birds who have settled in Hyde Park. The impact of these non-native birds on other bird species, the environment and the community is the topic of Pruett-Jones’ lecture at noon on Feb. 20.

Roughly one foot long, the monk parakeet is a very social and gregarious bird. The plume of green feathers on the bird’s head and neck inspired its scientific name, myiopsitta monachus, because its hood of feathers resembles a monk’s hood, according to the Houston Audubon Society. More details can be checked here.

He’s a beloved family pet and, as Ron Matz reports, an all-out search is underway in Federal Hill.

From the rooftop of her home, Gita Ollange is calling Connor. His cage is empty and she is heartbroken. Her beautiful gold crown conure flew away three days ago.

“I’m hoping that somebody has him,” she said. “He’s very smart and gorgeous and he responds to his name.” More details here

The 1 1/2-hour capture operation started about 3:30 p.m. on the 1400 block of Yew Street. Initially, firefighters and Cookie’s owner tried to use a 24-foot ladder to climb up to the bird, but the parrot got spooked and took off for a higher spot, said Acting Deputy Fire Chief John Healy.

“It was a long process,” Healy said. “They had to keep an eye on it as it was flying away to see where it went next. A large crowd had gathered just to watch the whole thing.”

Usually, the fire department does not do this type of rescue, but this case was different, he said. More details here.

PetLand manager Dennis Durk says a man who came into the Hobart store shortly before it closed Saturday night and apparently walked out the back door with the $900 parrot under his coat. Further details here.

Bird fanciers say it’s unfair to single out the green South American birds. “If they can justify banning the nanday,” said Chet Fuhrman of Columbia, “then they can justify banning any pet bird species.”

Numerous parrot lovers are expected to converge on Game Commission headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., at 1 p.m. today during a session to gather public input.

But PGC spokesman Jerry Feaser said people are blowing the issue out of proportion.

Rumors aside, Feaser said, the commission has no plan to confiscate birds.

“A lot of this is based on the false assumption that there would be a roundup and euthanization of these animals. That is not part of this proposal.”

Nor is the suggested change much of a change, he said.

Prohibitions against the possession, importation, release and sale of “captive bred” animals from other states or nations have been on the books since 1992. More details here.