by Rob McGibbon
An escaped pet budgerigar has been rescued from almost certain death in Brompton Cemetery.
Kind-hearted bird lover Mrs Maria Rawlinson, who lives on Fulham Road near the iconic 1840 cemetery, saved the lost bird last Friday after several concerned residents had spotted it in trees.
Budgie rescuer Mrs Rawlinson
Posed by model – NOT Crown Alpha
The budgie – a yellow and green specimen aged no more than six months – was first seen flying near the south entrance to the cemetery before it flapped over to the Esso Tesco petrol station opposite.
A resident called Sam skilfully coaxed it back to the cemetery where another man – Ian – managed to get it to feed on seeds in his hand. By this time, word had gone out to find Mrs Rawlinson, who is known locally for her care and love for birds. As soon as she got word of the drama, she dashed from a dental apppointment to the scene. She takes up the story:
“I was on my way home from the dentist when I got messages from my doorbell camera that I was needed. Neighbours had been knocking asking me to help. I immediately went to the cemetery and did a quick recce of the situation. I then went to my home, which is very nearby, and collected a bird travel cage and some budgie seed.
‘I saw the little bird and knew he was clearly hungry and getting very tired, so I thought the best thing to do was to catch him. I threw my fleece over him and put him into the cage and took him home. I fed him, gave him some water and put him in a dark place, so he could rest and regain some energy. Since then I have been endeavouring to find its owner.”
South Gate to Brompton Cemetery
It’s a sign…
Maria contacted the Fishbowl pet shop on Dawes Road, Fulham, and a vet, and she put up notices around the cemetery. It was her sign on the south gate that alerted The Citizen newspaper – a place where lampposts are never knowingly under-read.
Maria has given the bird a temporary name – Crown Alpha – and is deliberately withholding a photo in case there is a dispute over ownership at a later date. She said:
“I haven’t disclosed his colour because I don’t want a lot of nutters claiming something that is not rightfully theirs! Some people can be very peculiar, so I don’t want to give it up to somebody who is trying to pull a fast one.
“I’ve called this bird Crown Alpha on a temporary basis. It is ‘Crown’ as I had just had a crown fitted – by my fabulous dentist Marie Lou at Teeth and Smiles Dental Clinic on the Kings Road – and Alpha because I was helping the next day at Alpha Saturday at Holy Trinity Brompton. I always name my animals strange and peculiar names – even the babies that fall out of the nest that I have tried so desperately to save in the past.
“I have been feeling very bothered that some poor person is missing their poor little budgie. I only hope that between everybody we shall find that person.”
If anyone has information that could lead Mrs Rawlinson to the owner of the budgie, please call her on: 07747 185555.
Bird’s eye view of Brompton Cemetery looking south towards World’s End