A CHATTERBOX parrot has been accompanying his owner on mountain hikes – shouting “adventure, adventure” in anticipation and goading her about the football.
Lara Mitchell, 51, gets bags of attention as she hikes up Munros accompanied by African grey parrot Piper, aged five, perched on her shoulder. Together they have climbed six Munros, with the gobby pet demanding to know “where’s the birds?”
The football-mad bird has even tapped into the Old Firm rivalry and goads his Rangers-fan owner about it by yelling “C’mon the Hoops’.
Mitchell hopes to climb the tallest, Ben Nevis, accompanied by Piper this summer.
They have already bagged Ben Macdui, in the Cairngorms, Highlands – the second highest mountain in Scotland.
Mitchell, a healthcare assistant from Dundee, began taking Piper out on a harness when she went to the shops three years ago.
She realised he loved being outdoors and that Munro-bagging prompted Piper to talk more.
Now he has learnt to call her from the Amazon Alexa leaving five minute voicemails – and Mitchell said he “never shuts up” about adventures.
However the weather has to be good for a hike otherwise Piper vocally objects.
Piper thrives on attention from other climbers, and sometimes shouts “hello” at passersby.
Mitchell said: “I always wanted a parrot, but Piper never shuts up, especially since I took him up a Munro.
“He just loves the outdoors. I think he is just so content when he is up a hill and up in the air.”
She added: “I got him a harness and started taking him out walks and to the supermarket when I was doing my shopping.
“Then I thought ‘I’ve never seen a parrot up a Munro’ so once I got him used to his harness I took him up with me.
“The harness is about 80 feet long, so he can fly about if he likes, but he just sits on my shoulder as we go up.
“Now he loves it.”
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