Blackie Spit has an exotic (if uninvited) addition to its birdlife, but its owner wants the tropical bird to come home.

Ann Payie has spent the last 10 weeks trying to coax her female African ringneck parrot named Jade out of Blackie Spit. The 12year-old bird responds to her voice, but is afraid to come down from her perch.

"I'm 53 years old and I'm down there every day," she said. "I'm a very determined person."

She hopes someone with experiencing at catching wildlife will be able to get the bird she's owned for eight years back in her cage. The exotic parrot escaped in mid-June while Payie was in the middle of moving from North Surrey to White Rock.

"I thought I shut the front door, and as I tried to get her to go in her cage, she flew over my head and down the hall," she said. "I turned just in time to watch her fly out the front door.

"It was pretty devastating to see that because I knew when she got out that this is what was going to happen."

Payie scoured Kennedy Park for weeks, but there was no sign of her until early one morning in late July when her son, who lives in Crescent Beach, was getting ready for work.

"He opened his sliding door and looked outside and she was in the tree of the backyard where I used to live," said Payie.

Since then, Payie has visited Crescent Beach dozens of times, often arriving early and staying late when she isn't working as a home-support nurse. She fretted during the recent thunderstorm that passed through the area.

"I sat up through that whole thing, and while everybody was enjoying it, I kept wondering if my bird was out there," she said.

Payie has since put up a flyer nearby asking anyone who spots Jade to call and let her know if the bird is OK. While Jade has currently adjusted to the summer weather, Payie fears the later months will bring harsher conditions unsuitable for an exotic bird.

"I'm just desperate because winter's going to be coming in a few months," she said. "She's survived this long, so I feel like it's a shame just to give up."

Anyone who has seen Jade or is able to catch her can contact Payie at 604-789-8322.

Twitter @jacobzinn