A COUPLE have been left sick as a parrot after their pet macaw gave them the slip.

When Ian and Julia Shaw's feathered friend went on a flight of fancy the pair tried everything to tempt him back to his cage.

Postman Ian climbed on to the roof of the couple's house to try and talk Kiwi into coming back down to earth.

But the green and red Noble macaw got into a flap and headed for a nearby conifer. Ian tried to talk the pet down but Kiwi took flight - this time ending up in a 40-ft willow tree near the couple's home in Berrow Green, Martley.

His owners could not climb it to rescue him because the branches were too fragile, so again they tried to talk down the two-year-old.

After eight hours Kiwi took off again when a microlight plane soaring overhead gave him a fright. He has not been seen since.

Now the couple are appealing to anyone who spots their beloved bird to contact them.

Kiwi took off at 9.30am last Sunday after 39-year-old Ian knocked his cage open.

"I climbed up on to the roof after him, but he flew off into a neighbour's conifer tree," he said.

"I climbed up the tree which left me with a six-inch cut along my leg, but he flew off just as I reached him."

Then, the Alfrick-based postman and his 40-year-old wife spent eight hours trying to tempt Kiwi down from the willow with crisps and his favourite toys.

"He was talking to us but would not come back. Then a microlight flew by, he flew off and we have not seen him since," he said.

"We've been told by experts his instinct would be to stay put and not come down after flying to a high point.

"He was obviously very frightened, but we've been told macaws are quite a tough breed so we're hoping he's still all right and will be found."

Anyone who sees Kiwi should call the Evening News on 01905 748200, extension 278.