Bird-nappers target valuable budgies

BRECHIN, Scotland, July 6 (UPI) -- Police in Brechin, Scotland, are looking for thieves who took 14 valuable birds from a collector.

The budgerigars, called common parakeets in the United States, were taken when the house was burglarized on July 3.

Police told The Scotsman they believe the gang was stealing to order since they targeted a specific address and stole so many birds, some worth more than $163. A police spokesman said, "Given the choice of birds stolen, it is suspected that the person or people responsible for this theft will have experience in the keeping of these birds."

The native Australian bird is the most common pet parrot worldwide and is one of only two parrot species truly domesticated, the report said. They can be taught to speak and do simple tricks