A pet cockatoo died after an acid attack.

The bird, which has been in the St. George's family for more than 25 years, was found dead in its cage by owner Steve Hollis in his garden.

Last week the Hollis family found out that the substance in Salty's water and thrown over his cage was acid.

An autopsy revealed the bird, which can live in to its eighties, had been very healthy before the acid attack but had burn marks in its throat and may have suffocated.

The family suspect a neighbour may have been the culprit but say it will be impossible to prove.

"He was a noisy bird," admitted Mr. Hollis.

Salty's cage was discoloured after the incident.

"His water was bluey/greeny colour," said Mr. Hollis.

"I saved some the water and had it analysed.

"It was either hydrochloric or muriatic acid. When I poured the rest of the water away it was toxic and bubbled."

The citron crested cockatoo used to roam the neighbourhood but would always return. "I would be walking down the street and it would be up in the trees then it would come down and tap me on the head and fly off laughing," said Mr. Hollis.

His wife Suzanne remembered: "He was such a character. I had a love/hate relationship with him.

"He wouldn't think twice about taking a chunk out of you.

"We had four cats and a dog and Salty would rule the roost. He didn't mess around.

"But my son could do anything, pick him up and cuddle him.

"He would sit in the tree and squawk at people in the grocery store. People respected Salty."

"It makes me sick to my stomach to think someone killed him.

"My son Austin said he was looking forward to growing old with him."

Sailors visiting the Hollis's business Ocean Sails also got to know Salty.

Mr. Hollis said: said: "He was a legend known the world over."

And St. George's town crier Michael E Jones, who sports a cockatoo called Papoose on his shoulder during his walkabouts, said of his bird: "She roomed with Salty for six months, they were good friends. We'll miss him."