Prized preaching parrot disappears despite prayers

CAROLINE, Alberta — A fire and brimstone preaching parrot is on the lam and his Alberta owner is praying for the bird’s return. Dale Doell’s prized African grey parrot, Solomon, has a 2,600-word vocabulary with an evangelical Christian message. “He preaches a full-scale sermon out of the Word of God, just like John the Baptist,” said Doell, who is a born-again Christian. “He preaches fire and brimstone.” Doell gained renewed hope Sept. 18 that his sermonizing parrot is still alive and spreading God’s word after disappearing in August in central Alberta. The bird has been missing since Aug. 3 when it escaped Doell’s father-in-law’s home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains while having its picture taken.

Solomon had been scheduled to speak to about 1,000 people at a Christian-themed jamboree in Caroline, Alberta, on Aug. 24. Doell was also trying to land the bird an appearance on David Letterman’s talk show. “He can learn anything in one day. He’s got the intelligence of a 7-year-old,” said Doell. Although Solomon has been missing for more than six weeks, Doell remains optimistic his bird will return home. “I choose to believe in miracles.”