A pet parrot who was blown away by storm-force winds has returned home thanks to a Courier appeal.
Lexi vanished from her house in Blairgowrie last Tuesday.
The rare eclectus bird flew out of an open door and was carried off by 70mph gusts while owner Angie Gray was putting out her bins.
Angie, 44, said Lexi’s disappearance had left the family heartbroken, and after six days and no sightings, she thought she would never see her again.
However, just as she was about to give up all hope, Angie got a surprise call from local couple Iain and Wilma Hay on Monday afternoon.
The Hays, who live less than a mile away and who have bred parrots in the past, said they had spotted Lexi sheltering in their garden.
“They had read about Lexi’s disappearance in a story on the Courier website,” she said. “When they saw her, they went back to the article to check her name then tried calling to her.”
The couple said the parrot responded to her name.
“They took her inside and she seemed to be very comfortable with them,” Angie said. “She was happy to perch on their shoulders.
“It was a strange coincidence, because this couple actually used to keep parrots and had one of the same breed.
“Earlier on Monday I had been saying that there was no way she was going to turn up now. She had been away too long.”
Angie said her boys Jamie, 5, and three-year-old Finlay, were “over the moon” to have Lexi back.
They say her blue and red colours remind them of Spider-Man.
“She was in good condition, but was very hungry and tired looking,” said Angie. “She’s doing really well though.
“We think she was simply sheltering from the storm somewhere in the garden but came out again when the weather improved.”
Mr Hay, 66, said Lexi came to him when he whistled. “It just hopped on to my hand and climbed up on to my shoulders,” he said. “It was just as well I was someone who knew about these things.”
He said he could see straight away that it was a female eclectus, having owned a pair in the past.
Video by Dougie Nicolson