Free birds: Parrots make escape from Roger Williams Park Zoo ... again

PROVIDENCE − Three colorful macaws extended their aerial bird show beyond Roger Williams Park Zoo Wednesday, with at least some of them paying a visit to Cranston and one pulling an "all-nighter."

All three are back at the zoo Thursday morning, according to Vicki Scharfberg, the zoo's director of marketing and public relations.

"Two were found last night not too far away, South Elmwood," Scharfbeg said via email. "The third pulled an all-nighter ... We received tips from local residents that helped us track them down."

Former Journal reporter Mike Stanton said macaws were spotted in his Cranston neighborhood, next to the park. Stanton didn't see them, but his next-door neighbor heard them, and somebody from the zoo went into their yard looking for the birds.

It's not the first time macaws from the zoo spread their wings and toured parts of Rhode Island. Last May, they also caused a stir and were spotted by school kids and residents of neighborhoods near the zoo. Part of a seasonal show, the large parrots native to South America take regular training flights and sometimes get lost, Amy Fennell, supervisor of training explained last year.

More: High-flying escape artist macaws now the stars of the show at Roger Williams Park Zoo

The birds reside most of the time in Winter Haven, Florida, part of a large flock kept by Natural Encounters, which is putting on the show. Fennell explained last year that each bird has a distinct personality.

Hiro is the macaw that pulled the "all-nighter" and was recovered sometime early Thursday morning, according to Scharfberg.

For now, anyone who wants to see the birds will have to go inside the zoo. Shows are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with "surprise" pop-ups by the farmyard, weather permitting.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Parrots escape Roger Williams Park Zoo, touring Cranston neighborhood