Kevin Cook kneels by Tango, front, who is back home after fleeing the Honeytree Nursery in Norboro in July.
Kevin Cook said Tango first made his getaway in the middle of July. Cook’s efforts to get him back finally paid off on Labour Day.
Cook set up his large homemade trap on the side of Highway 2 near his home in Norboro, almost a month ago to capture the colourful bird, without causing any harm.
Dry dog food was used to lure him in, but the tricky Tango would dart out of the trap at the last second before Cook could pull the string to lower the door.
However, that wasn’t the case on Sept. 7.
“I was in the pickup sitting on the side of the road, and had the string inside the truck. I was reading a book, having a coffee, looking up every so often. My son was trying to get me to go home. I said, ‘alright, just one more minute, Logan.’”
That’s when Tango made an appearance.
“I had just put down my coffee. I was ready to throw the string out the window, and I said, ‘hold everything.’”
He pulled the string, successfully securing Tango in place.
“I pumped my arms in the air. My son jumped up in the backseat of the truck. A neighbour happened to be driving by, and cars were honking. It was a surreal moment just for a bird.”
After Tango’s initial departure, Cook brought in another male and a female peabird in hopes of intriguing the elusive bird to come back home.
“He seems to be fitting in quite well with Salsa and Flamenco (his new pen mates). Now he’s in with his buddies, and hopefully this is the last of Tango’s escapades at the moment.
“It could happen again, but at least he knows where home is, and I want him in for the winter,” he added.
Cook, owner of the Honeytree Nursery, said anyone can visit to look at the adventurous Tango and the other birds.
“My dogs aren’t famous, I’m not famous, but my peacock is famous all across Canada.”
