Owner Reunited With Macaw Taken by Good Samaritan

A treasured macaw that disappeared Monday from outside City of Hope Cancer Center, where its owner had been visiting his wife, was recovered Wednesday.

Michael Bojorquez, 48, of Montebello said he took the bird because he feared for its safety and that he had been trying to find the owner.

The 5-year-old bird had been in its usual perch in a tree while its owner, Barry Schmit, 43, of Claremont was in the hospital. Schmit always brought the bird to the hospital because it comforted his wife, who could see it from her window.

Schmit was distraught Monday when he learned that the bird was missing. Witnesses had seen a man throw a blanket over it and leave in a truck.

Bojorquez, who services office equipment at the center, said he had “thought the bird was injured, because normally if a bird like that saw people, it would fly away.”

Also, he said, “it was getting dark, and I’ve had a parrot before and I know crows are attracted to the birds and can kill them.”

He said he took the macaw home, went to a pet store and bought bird food and the next day, placed a found ad on an Internet site. He also went back to the hospital looking for any fliers about a missing bird, he said.

When detectives arrived at Bojorquez’s workplace Wednesday and asked him about the bird, he said it was safe at home and that he was searching for the owner.

A relieved Schmit said he was completely exhausted and had been about to give up on his search when Bojorquez was found.

Schmit said he was thankful for Bojorquez’s efforts to protect the bird.

“He was doing a compassionate thing because he didn’t know I was inside with my wife,” Schmit said. “It was absolutely a humanitarian effort, and I applaud him.”