Members of the public are being asked to help locate more than a dozen exotic escapees from Dublin’s Marlay Park.
The colourful birds, which include cockatiels, budgies, diamond doves, red-rumped parrots and kakariki got out of an aviary in the Rathfarnham park when part of the roof collapsed due to snow accumulations.
Established a number of years ago by a man who wanted local children to enjoy the birds, the aviary is a much-loved attraction in the park’s walled garden.
Between 15 and 20 birds escaped from the enclosure.
One was returned after it flew into a local shop and was caught by a shopkeeper and seven customers on Sunday.
While many of the birds come from Australia and Asia, the birds are used to the Irish climate and should be able to survive in the current conditions. However, they may fall prey to native birds.
A spokesman for Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) said there has been a possible sighting in Drimnagh.
On the response to the appeal, he said: “It’s absolutely been fantastic. It is part of the positive side of this whole event with the snow.
“One of the big issues with any birds like these is they are domestic birds, they are not good at fending for themselves,” the spokesman said. “They are very brightly coloured and they are just prime targets for some of our native birds.”
The park’s aviary has been built up over the years and includes birds which would have been donated by locals who were no longer able to tend to them.
Marlay Park’s walled garden remains closed to the public due to snow. The aviary is to be cordoned off and will remain shut until it can be repaired.
Meanwhile, the remaining birds have been moved to sheds attached to the aviary.
Anyone who comes across one of the escaped birds is asked to contact the DSPCA. The birds are not used to being handled and people are advised to try and coax them into a house or room where they can be confined before help arrives.