Parrot returned to happy owners

By: TANYA RODRIGUES - Staff Writer | Friday, November 12, 2004 10:42 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Babes is home. The blue-fronted Amazon parrot, missing for more than a week, was reunited with grateful owners Richard Lepanto and his daughter Nina, 13, on Friday evening.

"How ya doin!" Lepanto said to his 18-year-old pet, as it perched on his finger and squawked. "It's party time. ... Are you happy? You're OK. You're back home now."

Lepanto had opened his townhouse door to see Sabrina Mathews, 6, holding the emerald-hued Babes on her small hand.

Standing behind Sabrina was her mother, Misty Mathews, with Sabrina's little sisters Emily, 4, Autumn, 2, and Trinity, 1.

"It's good to feel she gets to come home," said Mathews, who had called that morning to say she had the missing bird.

For Lepanto, it was a happy ending to a nightmare that began Nov. 2, as he bicycled from his East Valley Parkway home to vote. Babe had been sitting on his handlebars.

Suffering from epilepsy all his life, Lepanto had a petit mal seizure in a Vons grocery store parking lot off Citrus Avenue.

He remained functional but didn't recall what happened during the seizure or how long it lasted. Babes, sitting on the handlebars, apparently jumped or slipped off the bike. Lepanto realized the bird was gone when he arrived at his polling place.

Retracing his steps, he learned the bird had been brought to the Vons store, where a customer had volunteered to care for it until its owner was found. She left her name and a phone number that turned out to be disconnected.

Since then, Lepanto posted fliers, called television and newspaper reporters, and tried to keep faith that Babes would be returned.

Mathews, 23, said her phone was supposed to be connected last week, but there were problems with the phone company.

She said she had seen the bird hopping around the Vons parking lot, and offered to help out.

Matthews, who works full time at a retail store and attends classes full time at Palomar College, said she intended to locate the parrot's owner after the phone problems were solved.

In the meantime, she bought parrot food and watched as Babes opened up to her family.

They called the bird "Buddy," not recognizing her rendition of her own name.

Mathews said her husband once heard Babes say "Richard." The bird did neckroll "dances" and playfully chased little Autumn, laughing when she'd finally shut a door to escape, Mathews said.

"She's had lots of excitement and lots of playmates these last few days," Mathews said of Babes.

Mathews said she called Lepanto after her sister-in-law saw a television news story about Babes' disappearance.

Lepanto said he plans to buy Sabrina and her sisters a cockatiel to thank them for returning Babes. He's considering a leather leg tether for Babes when she's on his bike.

Meanwhile, Nina said she's grateful to have the bird that helped her father come out of an emotional shell about being epileptic. She said Babes is a comfort to her, too.

"I'm glad she's back ... my dad's better and I'm better," Nina said.

Contact staff writer Tanya Rodrigues at (760) 740-5420 or trodrigues@nctimes.com.

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