Islanders are being asked to share photos of Mika the Macaw
A colourful character in island life suddenly and unexpectedly died last week, leaving its owner devastated.
Mika the Macaw, who had about 270 followers across Facebook and Instagram, was 17 years old, having arrived in the island in 2007 by a cat carrier on Aurigny from Jersey.
Her owner Sarah Wong is inviting anybody who has photos of Mika to post them to her Facebook page so that a collage can be created in her memory.
Miss Wong has kept birds of different species since 2006 and said that she was well-known as the Parrot Lady.
She said she had received an outpouring of love from friends, family and followers at the news of Mika's death.
‘So many people have asked me where she is when they see me out without her. The last week we’ve received so much love, sympathy and support from total strangers,’ said Miss Wong.
‘She truly touched the hearts of so many people. She helped me build the amazing network in Guernsey I have today, turning strangers into friends and I will be forever thankful for that as her memories live in these connections.’
She added that Mika had met Guernsey-based British racing driver Andy Priaulx and featured in a European Specsavers stores campaign.
‘Mika was often spotted by Cobo, the North and West shows, Liberation Days, we were regularly welcomed at Octopus, Slaughterhouse, Rockmount and Dix Neuf. Sometimes if the weather was right we’d be in Red or Saumarez Park cracking a nut. We’ve even attended a few kids’ parties and gone into a school to educate and inspire children over the years.’
Mika was harness trained at six months because Miss Wong felt it important to socialise her and expose her to different things, including loud noises.
‘It’s the reason she was good with so many strangers and would step up into people and have her photo taken.
‘If she got tired, she’d say “night night” and that was my cue to take her home or put her to bed. People were in awe of her colours so much that she started to say “wow” as that was often the initial response people had to her. She was meant to live over 50 years.
'We never thought we’d see this day so soon – she was one truly loved macaw to this island,’ said Miss Wong.
Yellow and gold macaws typically live up to 80 years, weigh just over a kilogram and can fly at up to 35 miles per hour.
They are excellent mimics and can learn on average 20 to 30 words.
