Shortly after Loren and Christopher Muhr moved to Sandstone Court, in Ellicott City, the unthinkable happened. Maverick, the couple's 8-year-old conure -- long since a house pet -- took off to explore the great blue yonder.

Loren Muhr said her husband was working in the garage July 20 and had the bird sitting atop his shoulder when a young boy walked by and asked to see the colorful miniature parrot.

"The bird was on his finger and he took off," Loren Muhr said.

Maverick had never been outside before, she said, and inside, he was not allowed to fly around the house.

"I guess he got spooked by the light and the area and the noises. He was fine in the garage," she said.

Maverick was a part of her life ever since he was a hatchling.

Two days after Maverick flew away, his owners heard him and saw him in a neighbor's tree.

"We were calling and calling him for hours and he would not come down," Loren Muhr said. "They don't know how to come down. They have to be taught how to fly down and since he never was allowed to fly, he never learned that."

Like most conures, Maverick has a fondness for silver bells and other shiny objects. The couple has scoured the neighborhood carrying a small travel case and ringing a bell, looking for Maverick, all to no avail. They have also distributed flyers around the neighborhood and are offering $100 for Maverick's safe return.

"A lot of people have said they saw him around July 22, but we have not seen him since," Muhr said.

Maverick answers to his name, and also says "Good boy," "go sleepies" and "give kisses."

"He is used to being around people," Muhr said.

Anyone with information on Maverick's whereabouts is asked to call Muhr at 410-712-6847.

---

user comments (0)