A wild green parrot turned a San Francisco construction site into an unlikely rescue scene on Aug. 30 after getting its head stuck in a third-floor balcony railing.
The ending was even more memorable — after firefighters freed the bird, a nearby flock appeared to greet it with a chorus of celebratory squawks, USA Today reported.
Here's what to know
According to San Francisco Animal Care & Control, the bird was trapped in the gap between glass panels on a third-floor balcony at a construction site.
Video released by SFACC showed San Francisco firefighters freeing the parrot.
Afterward, they wrapped the bird in a towel and handed it to San Francisco Animal Care & Control to check for injuries.
"Thankfully they were fine: their wings, legs and neck were all okay, so Officer Mullen released the bird," SFACC confirmed.
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Once released, the parrot flew to nearby trees and landed on a branch, where SFACC said it appeared tired but otherwise healthy.
Officials said the bird had become stuck on a third-floor balcony, caught in the narrow space between the glass panels.
What's being done?
The San Francisco Fire Department freed the parrot, and animal care staff examined it before determining it could be returned to the wild.
"Other parrots came around and were squawking joyfully in celebration," SFACC said.
Where can I learn more?
These stories touch on some of the same themes as San Francisco's balcony rescue, following trapped birds freed by rescuers and other concerned citizens.
• At a coastal apartment building, firefighters staged a glass-balcony rescue after a seagull became trapped.
• In the U.K., rescuers completed a rooftop netting rescue for a jackdaw above a home.
• In Texas, a family improvised a backyard bird rescue for an injured Mississippi kite.
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