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Lost parrot enlists the help of strangers by playing 'peek-a-boo' to find his way back home

The rare parrot has a limited vocabulary, but he knew what to say to get the attention of others for help.

lost parrot; talking parrot; found pet; acts of kindness

Lost parrot makes his way home by playing peek-a-boo.

Most people know that when a small child says peek-a-boo, you play along, either pretending to be shocked or hiding your own face. But what happens when you're trying to eat dinner on your patio and you hear the familiar phrase, except instead of turning to see a chubby toddler, there's a bird? Safe to say that most people would turn back around and continue eating thinking they must've been mistaken.

One family in Florida did just that, but the "peek-a-boo" happened again, and the only culprit available was the bird behind them. Reed Schweizer, the man who found the bird, was probably questioning how strong his drink was at that moment.

"All of a sudden, I hear from behind me, 'peek-a-boo', with a cocktail in my hand. And I'm thinking to myself, birds don't talk," Schweizer told ABC7.

Turns out, the smart, rare Solomon Island Electus parrot named Tiki was lost and trying to find help to get back to his humans. It's a good thing, too, because his humans missed him desperately and had been looking for the green fugitive for three days.

Brent Chadwell told ABC7 that Tiki comes and goes from his cage as he pleases so he can stretch his wings around the house. But this time, something was different. Chadwell believes that while his girlfriend was cleaning they didn't realize the cage door was open, and Tiki decided to fly out an open window to tour the neighborhood. The couple looked everywhere for the bird and posted his picture on social media sites hoping that someone would've seen their extremely rare pet.

Sadly, Tiki didn't come home, and for three days, the couple didn't get any leads. That is until the normally squawking parrot decided to alert strangers that he was lost by playing peek-a-boo. To some, that may not seem impressive, but according to Tiki's owner, the bird doesn't know many words, and the words he did know he used to try to communicate with humans.

"That's definitely Tiki's way of telling them 'I need help,'" Chadwell told ABC7. "He says 'peek-a-boo,' 'tickle tickle tickle,' 'give me that foot,' 'come here,' 'hello' and 'hi.'"

Schweizer posted a photo of Tiki on Facebook asking if anyone lost their parrot, and 15 minutes later, Chadwell was brought to tears after seeing his bird's picture. Tiki was safe.

Watch the incredible story below:

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Meet the 18-year-old advocating for teen mental health, one inspiring podcast at a time

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

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A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

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Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.

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