Couple take pet parrots to the shops, opticians - and even pub lunches from my talking ben and tom news app Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 2:58
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✓ Published: 20-May-2024

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A couple take their pet parrots to the shops, opticians, supermarket, Chinese takeaway - and the pub.<br/><br/>Anne Spider-McKeown, 64, and partner Spider Spider, 66, who changed his name by deed poll to reflect his love of animals, rescued three Macaws in early 2020.<br/><br/>The trio – Chester and bonded pair Charlie and Elwood – were initially adopted by Anne and Spider after they had to give up their motorbike hobby after coming down with Covid in January 2020. <br/><br/>Sadly, Macaw Elwood, who was disabled and looked after by Charlie, passed away in July last year. <br/><br/>Chester had bonded with Anne, and after Elwood’s death Spider says he became better friends with Charlie. <br/><br/>Charlie doesn’t fly, as Elwood couldn’t fly and Charlie would look after the fellow bird – but since Elwood’s death, the couple have been trying to help him find his wings. <br/><br/>Now, Anne and Spider are regularly spotted out and about with the parrots – going to the supermarket, B&Q and even the local pub together.<br/><br/>Spider, from Birmingham, said: “Whenever we go pub for lunch with the birds, we always take them.<br/><br/>“Going out with them turns any shopping trip about three times longer – we don’t mind though, we love people asking questions, it’s great to interact with people. <br/><br/>“It’s an eye-opener for people, lots of people are gobsmacked that the birds are real and I'm not walking around with a stuffed parrot on my shoulder. <br/><br/>“Anne loves birds and always wanted a blue and gold Macaw since being a child, so we thought we could rehome a couple as a new hobby. <br/><br/>“It's like having two three-year-old kids in the house. <br/><br/>“Charlie used to come with us to all sorts of places and then a bit later we decided we would harness train Chester so he could have same element of freedom. <br/><br/>“Generally, they’re very happy to interact with people, when they’re both in the right mood they’ll let strangers give them treats – people are surprised they’re so gentle with their big beaks.” <br/><br/>The retired couple have made some changes to their garden to accommodate the birds, installing a huge bird net nine feet high outside. <br/><br/>They say they wanted to make sure the parrots could have some freedom, so they let them out into the garden under supervision.<br/><br/>Spider says the birds have big personalities – and says Chester is very protective of Anne, even telling Spider off if he goes near her. <br/><br/>And he says he’s been amazed by Charlie’s changed personality – saying the relationship between human and bird is like human and child. <br/><br/>Spider said: “When we lost Elwood, Charlie very distraught so i Ia lot of work into letting him know he had a friend in me. <br/><br/>“Now Charlie has become my best pal. Charlie says hello, hello Charlie and will sing in his own way which is something he never did before. <br/><br/>“Chester will talk more readily than Charlie, when the phone rings Chester is the first to say hello. <br/><br/>“We have a lot of fun with them,they’re loveable characters.”