The day he flew the coop, Nigel spoke English with a distinguished British accent. Four years later, he communicates in Spanish and goes by Larry.
The African Grey parrot has obviously seen a lot since he disappeared from Darren Chick's Torrance, California, home. Nigel's long journey home started when the owners of a dog spa in Torrance heard whistling outside, and after investigating found the parrot. "He was the happiest bird," Julissa Sperling told The Daily Breeze. "He was singing and talking without control.... He was barking like the dogs. I'm from Panama and he was saying, 'What happened?' in Spanish."
Sperling saw an ad from a veterinarian named Teresa Micco looking for her missing African Grey, Benjamin, and thought it could be the parrot she rescued. She took him to Micco's office, where he was scanned for a microchip. It wasn't Benjamin, but the microchip led Micco to Animal Lovers pet store, which eventually led to Chick. Micco went to his house to let him know his bird had been found.
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The reunion wasn't as heartfelt as it could have been — Nigel bit Chick — but Micco said the bird will get used to being with his old owner again soon. During her quest to find Benjamin, Micco has brought five African Grey parrots back to their rightful owners, and she hopes "that karma is going to come back."
