When a cheeky mynah bird flew into a Blairgowrie home, no one could’ve guessed it would spark a 7-month mystery, an emotional reunion and a powerful reminder of what community kindness can do.
Johannesburg, South Africa (05 April 2025) – In a quiet corner of Blairgowrie, a small act of kindness has taken flight, uniting a community, a rescuer and a bird who captured hearts across the neighbourhood.
It all began at 7pm on 18 March when an unexpected visitor flew into a home on Curvy Road. A cheeky Indian mynah burst into the living room, surprising everyone, including the neighbour’s cat. Despite several gentle attempts to guide the bird back outside, he made himself comfortable and stayed the night.
By morning, Chantelle Rimington, who shared the story on Facebook, turned to her local WhatsApp group to try and find the bird’s owner. What followed was a heart-warming trail of community messages. Someone on Morell Avenue piped up, saying they’d been looking after the mynah, affectionately named Charlie, since December. Then others jumped in too, sharing stories of the bird popping in and out of their homes, dodging curious cats and wagging tails along the way.
But something still didn’t feel quite right.
No one could confirm where Charlie had originally come from. So, with her newfound feathery guest still charming his way through the house, Chantelle reached out to Katherine Matthews, an animal rescuer known in the area for being a bit of a superhero when it comes to animals in need.
Katherine quickly connected her with Laura Newman from Mystic Mynah Rescue and Rehab and that’s where the magic truly began.
Laura was intrigued from the first photo. Something about the bird looked very familiar. She had lost a female mynah named Goofy, nearly seven months earlier in Bryanston. A meeting was arranged for 5pm the next day and Laura arrived with a special cage and seven other mynahs in tow.
What happened next left everyone emotional.
The moment Goofy saw Laura, she lit up. It was as if no time had passed at all. There was an immediate connection… recognition, relief and what can only be described as joy. Within five minutes, Goofy had gently hopped into Laura’s cage, ready to go home.
Related Story
Laura spent the next hour and a half sharing insights about these special birds, explaining how Indian mynahs (also known as common mynahs) are far more intelligent, sociable and emotionally tuned-in than people often realise.
Later that evening, she messaged: “So grateful and absolutely floored to find Goofy after 7 months. Thank you to the whole Blairgowrie community for being so kind to Goofy and keeping her safe since December. It’s the best gift ever—like winning the lottery!”
This wasn’t just a story about a bird finding her way back. It was about people. Neighbours who care. Strangers who go the extra mile. And the quiet, beautiful truth that good things are always possible when we come together.
Blairgowrie, you did good. You reminded us all that even the smallest gestures, like opening your home to a feathered visitor, can lead to something extraordinary.
by 