Purloined parrots Duke and Hazard. (Photo courtesy Jim Shields)

CALGARY -- The owner of a pair of purloined parrots isn't interested in the bird-brained tale behind their disappearance, he just wants them back.

Jim Shields said he left his Tim Hortons job during downtime near the end of this shift Sunday and picked up his two Caiques from home.

Shields, who said he planned to take the birds to the park for fresh air as he often does when the weather complies, then stopped back at the coffee shop at 58 Ave. and 4 St. S.E.

He went inside to change and left the parrots, in a travel carrier, on the staff picnic table just outside the shop's door.

When he emerged, the birds -- called Duke and Hazard -- and their cage were gone.