Photogenic parrot's sidekick goes missing

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., March 9 (UPI) -- Bobo, a prize-winning Congo African Grey parrot from Chicago, is mostly blue these days because her sidekick, Chomper, has gone missing, their owner says.

Bobo, whose photos placed both runner-up and third in a recent competition tied to the PBS television's "NATURE" series, normally loves rolling over on her back with her feet in the air while playing with toys. But since Chomper, a small, green-and-orange Jenday conure parrot flew off -- possibly became dinner for a hawk -- owner and photographer Philip Thistlethwaite says Bobo appears to miss her.

"Bobo continues to call for her several times a day," he said in a news release on PR Newswire. "I have no way of knowing if Chomper escaped to a friendly human or was captured by the hawk. Not knowing is so hard."

A reward is being offered for Chomper's return, information leading to her being found alive or recovery of her remains. She has a leg band, so she can easily be identified.