For more than a decade, Fountain Valley resident and bird lover John Nguyen has educated people on the ins and outs of avian pet care, posting regular videos on a YouTube channel that has garnered more than 86,500 views. followers.
She shares what she’s learned about raising, training and housing birds in videos starring Smokey, an African gray parrot she’s raised for the past 14 years and with whom she shares a strong bond since bottle-feeding her at 5 weeks old. Some videos have been viewed millions of times.
A handsome, dove-sized grey, with mottled gray feathers, ruby-red tail feathers, and a white tailbone surrounding pale yellow eyes, Smokey’s good looks and ability to hold conversations, meow like a cat and utter phrases like “tickle, tickle”. ” and “Are you a birdie?” garnered a lot of interest in the YouTube world and on social media.
Now Nguyen hopes the interest will help him find his beloved bird, which flew out of a backyard aviary three weeks ago and hasn’t been seen since.
Smokey the African gray parrot, photographed in 2017, has been missing from his home in Fountain Valley since January 1.
(Courtesy of John Nguyen)
The high school teacher has been pounding the pavement and searching the skies for his friend as he walks with his wife Dina Vu and their 1-year-old daughter, Hailey, but apart from the occasional track that leads nowhere or, at one case, a joke called, there has been no news of his pet.
In his most recent video, posted on the “wingsNpaws” YouTube channel, Nguyen, 35, recounts the sad story and urges anyone in Orange County who has seen his beloved parrot, or possibly taken it , to communicate with him.
“Hey guys,” he says, turning grimly to the camera. “Smokey is missing.”
A flyer created by Fountain Valley resident John Nguyen, who has been missing his African gray parrot Smokey since January 1.
(Courtesy of John Nguyen)
He explains that the last time he saw her, around 5pm on New Year’s Day, she was replacing a perch that fell into her aviary when she suddenly startled, flapping her wings and flying in panic through an open door. The parrot circled around and then gained height, reaching a height unknown to her.
Although Nguyen searched for her in the gathering darkness, calling her name, he could not find her. Since then, she’s posted flyers, contacted nearby vet offices and animal shelters, and tried to spread the word on social media.
Hundreds of followers of Nguyen’s YouTube channel, and others on Instagram, have offered words of encouragement from around the world in response to the teacher’s latest video post. Some share stories of their own lost birds or an occasional meeting. Still, despite more than 5,700 views, Smokey’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Unlike stray cats or dogs, who can subsist outdoors on scraps and their own hunting instincts, domesticated birds may have a more difficult time finding food in the wild. Nguyen says that her only hope is that Smokey, perhaps exhausted from flying, may have flown to a stranger who could keep her safe.
John Nguyen of Fountain Valley with his wife Dina Vu and daughter Hailey have been desperately searching for their African gray parrot, Smokey, who got scared and flew away on January 1. Nguyen and Smokey have been featured in various YouTube videos on the “wingsNpaws” channel.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
“I suspect that, at this point, it is highly unlikely that it is still in the wild,” Nguyen said. “I hold on to hope every day that she is with a family right now and they just don’t know we are looking for her.”
Meanwhile, her home in Fountain Valley is much quieter these days. Smokey’s indoor perches are a sad reminder of happier times, while the outdoor aviary seems vast and empty without its occupant. Hailey, who had gotten used to feeding Smokey every morning, still asks about her.
Hailey Nguyen, 1, out and about with Smokey the parrot and Snuggles the dog on December 27, days before Smokey went missing.
(Courtesy of John Nguyen)
“I was able to get my daughter to the point where she could scratch Smokey’s head; I think she misses her bird,” she said. “We really want her back.”
Undaunted, Nguyen continues to seek out and reach out to locals who may have seen or heard signs of unusual sounds or activity near their homes, such as Smokey’s strange impression of crows or the beep of a truck backing up.
Though she tries to stay positive, hope is fading with each passing day. He is asking anyone in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Westminster and Garden Grove, or even as far away as Costa Mesa or Anaheim, to keep an eye out for Smokey and call (714) 725-8355 with any possible Guides.
“It’s very frustrating, at the end of the day, to know that another day has passed, which means the chances of finding her are much more difficult,” Nguyen said of the search. “I feel like I’m fighting against time.”
In the latest sign of trust, Smokey the parrot reclines in the hands of John Nguyen, who bottle-fed her as a chick and raised her for 14 years.
(Courtesy of John Nguyen)
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