UPDATE: The bird has now been found and safely returned to Birdman.
Local legend Joel “Birdman” Cornwall is pleading for the return of his beloved yellow-crested cockatoo, “Sweetheart,” who went missing on Thursday, October 31, and is offering a significant reward for her safe recovery.
Known as the Canning Vale Birdman, or just Birdman, Joel is a cherished figure across the WA community, where he shares his birds and dedicates his time to helping those in need by distributing fresh produce and hosting community cook-ups, funded by just donations from the birds and his disability pension.
Sweetheart, often heard chirping “Hello, sweetheart,” climbed out of a window at Birdman’s home on McNamara Drive in Thornlie sometime between 8am and 4pm while he was in Bentley Hospital for X-rays and evaluations ahead of an upcoming operation.
Birdman said the loss of Sweetheart has left a void that’s weighing heavily on his mental and emotional health, as he has gone through a lot in his life, and the birds offer him a sense of purpose and companionship.
“I use the birds to help raise funds, care for them and feed people for free from the Canning Vale Market,” he said.
“Doing that and having self-worth and the self-need keeps me up and running.”
Sweetheart can’t fly and has only ever walked a couple of houses away, so he believes someone may have taken the bird for its monetary value.
“She has occasionally gone walkabout, but she normally just stays in the yard and goes up the trees,” Birdman said.
“She loves me to death. I normally take her with me, but I couldn’t as I was going to hospital, so she’s gone looking for me while I was away. I believe that’s what’s happened again; however, someone’s come along and picked her up.”
Using the funds he raises, Birdman regularly visits local soup kitchens, churches, and community centres to share the fresh produce he has purchased, offering support to those who are struggling, including the homeless in the South Beach community and beyond.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community, Birdman was named the City of Gosnells 2019 Community Citizen of the Year.
Birdman said everyone in his community is heartbroken about Sweetheart being taken, as he doesn’t own her; the community does.
“She is a community bird, so there are hundreds of people out there just mourning her not being around.”
“The birds are my family. I don’t have any family, so I’m reaching out big time.”
If you believe you may have seen Sweetheart or know of her whereabouts, please reach out to ‘Canning Vale Birdman’ on Facebook or contact Examiner Newspapers.
