‘We take our “trouble-loving” parrots to the pub they even have their very own order’
A Birmingham couple take their two large pet parrots out and about everywhere with them perched on their shoulders.
Charlie, a green-winged Macaw and Chester, a blue and gold Macaw come with Spider and Anne Spider-McKeown as they go about their daily routine.
The retired couple rehomed the pair in 2021, and have determined the animals should not be “stuck at home or in the garden,” bringing them along when they go to the pub, the shops, various appointments and even B&Q.
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Spider, 66, and Anne, 64, took on Charlie, Chester and Elwood from the Safe Haven Parrot Refuge in Tewkesbury. Spider, who changed his name by deed poll because of his love of animals, said people’s reactions are “comical”.
(Image: BMP Media)
The former National Express bus driver said: “They think is it a stuffed parrot on my shoulder. I am not a pirate either, I don’t have a cutlass or a wooden leg.”
He added that the last thing people expect when they go to the pub is seeing a man with a parrot on his shoulder ordering a pint.
Both birds weigh around a kilo each, and say “hello” and “goodbye”. Chester also says “hello” when the phone rings and blows Anna a kiss by making a kissing noise.
(Image: BMP Media)
Three times a week, the parrots go out with their owners for up to three hours.
The crew are known to the punters at the New Inn, Yardley and the Sun Inn, Romsley, Halesowen, where Spider and Anne pop in for lunch.
Spider said: “They go to Weoley Castle library, B&Q, Screwfix, garden centres, opticians, and in the foyer of Sainsbury’s.
“They love the attention and Charlie likes people stroking his beak.
“They accept treats and I keep some pine nuts in my pocket because they are not fattening. They don’t mind dogs, trucks, traffic – when they are perched on our shoulders they are just in their own world.”
In a pub, the couple “have to” order chicken because the birds like it. They roll out a towel and place it on the ground then set up two perches on camera tripods for the birds.
Spider explains: “That way if they drop something or poop, it goes on the towel and we take it away. We do consider the venues.”
The couple were originally told taking on Macaws would be like taking on a couple of toddlers and Chester has a penchant for being a naughty little boy.
Spider said: “When Anne puts the washing out, he perches on the basket and chucks the washing out onto the stones. When we are potting the plants, he will pick up the plant pot up in his beak and throw it.
“When Anne says ‘no’, Chester will answer ‘no’ back to her. He likes disorder!”
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