Column: A community came together to get a lost bird home to Lewiston

SUN JOURNAL • June 3, 2026

When Bijoux joined the family, he was accepted by all, including Boots the family cat and Wicket the dog. All was well: a family scene fit for framing. Until, that is, a brief lapse in household security led to anguish. The door was open for a split second. Out Bijoux flew into a world with which he was not familiar. The bird’s family watched in horror as their beloved conure vanished into the night. There was no chance that Heather was going to give up on Bijoux. She went to a popular Facebook page. One lady reported that Bijoux almost landed on her shoulder. That’s how eager he was to find his way home. The good news came from Lewiston’s animal control officer, Chris Sanders, who was enlisted to return the bird to its proper home. It was only through the empathy and generosity of the strangers that this story was brought to a joyful conclusion.