Barney (don't read if you're easily offended!)

I don't know whether everyone heard about this, even so it's worth hearing again, and it would be a pity to miss it. It made national news last year, this is how it was reported in The Times, I kept the cutting and have just come across it again.

"I would like to raise a toast this week to Barney, a blue and gold parrot at a wildlife sanctuary in Nuneaton, who during an important civic visit told the local mayoress to "f*** off". Not content with mortifying his keepers with merely one outburst, he then turned to two police officers and a vicar and added: "You can f*** off too, w****rs".

It tickled me (which says something about me! ) not least at the image it evoked, but also the idea of the culprits, someone, somewhere, rolling in the aisles at what they'd achieved! They must have been over the moon.

What a rude parrot hopes someone was on hand with the soap to wash its mouth out

There was a parrot with the same dictionary to hand at a local bird sanctuary. His cage was next to the entrance just outside the shop ..... he was moved to a "private" area as he offended too many visitors. He would wait until visitors would walk past him then mutter the f ..... off part under his breath. It was quite amusing to watch people look around to see who had said it he he This particular parrot could mimic male and female voices and would randomly use one to voice the expletives ... naughty boy he he.

Jenny M wrote: It was quite amusing to watch people look around to see who had said it he he ... naughty boy he he.

You were watching? I don't suppose you have any idea who taught it then?

Parrots are funny , one big Macaw in a local pet shop here makes the most awfull racket. It squarks so loudly its deafening and goes right through you! It really is a horrible noise and makes you jump out of your skin as you walk through the Burnley pet shop. I dont know how the shop assistants stand it!

Perhaps that's why they're taught other things, so it may be better as it is!

Nah I had no idea who had taught him but after a few years of going there regularly I knew about him he he