Seminole County woman still searching for missing parrot Blue after two months

A Seminole County woman is still searching for her missing Quaker parrot, Blue, nearly two months after he flew away near Bromeliad Road and Lake Harney Woods Boulevard.

Linda Alvarenga said Blue got out around 9:15 a.m. on March 2 and headed east toward the Lake Harney Woods neighborhood. She described him as a teal-and-blue bird with green eyes and a distinctive bent toe on his left foot, details she hopes will help someone recognize him if he is seen perched in a yard, on a fence or in the trees along the neighborhood streets.

Blue has been part of Alvarenga’s life since she hand-raised him from about three weeks old. She said the bird helped shape the path that led her into veterinary medicine, especially work with birds and exotic animals, giving the search a personal weight that goes well beyond a missing pet.

The search has stretched through an already major transition for Alvarenga, who is preparing to graduate and move to South Carolina to begin her career. In the meantime, she has spent weeks walking miles, putting up flyers, contacting local groups and sharing Blue’s story online, hoping a neighbor or passerby spots a bird that looks unusual enough to stand out.

There have been no confirmed sightings. Alvarenga said two possible leads came up, one from a social media post that appeared to show a similar parrot being offered for sale online and another from a report of a found Quaker parrot near Geneva Oaks Animal Hospital. Neither lead produced a confirmed match.

Alvarenga is also offering a reward for Blue’s safe return, but she has chosen not to publicly share the amount after receiving scam texts.

Blue is a Quaker parrot, also known as a monk parakeet, a species Florida wildlife officials say has established populations across the state, with the largest in Miami, West Palm Beach and Tampa. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says monk parakeets can compete with native wildlife, affect agriculture and build large colonial nests on power poles that can damage utility equipment and contribute to power outages.

For Seminole County residents, the most useful detail may be the smallest one: Blue’s bent left toe. Anyone who spots a teal-and-blue parrot matching that description in or around Lake Harney Woods can call 321-948-4780.