Troublesome things Psittacidae...

That's parrots in case you are wondering....and they can be entertaining at the best of times.

After all, who doesn't like a parrot right?

Well, clearly not the local council of Patras in Western Greece as they have issued a parrot with a $650 parking ticket.

No, it's true!

The local council says the parrot's perch is "illegally parked" and is obstructing drivers because it partially blocks a metered parking space. Lambros Michalopoulos, who owns Coco the parrot, says the bird will die if it has to move back inside. As neither side is prepared to back down, the dispute is now going to court!

Coco has, for 18 years, wowed the locals with multi-coloured Amazonian plumage and extrovert personality, and is now quite a mascot in the mascot in the busy port city of Patras.

However, Patras has very narrow streets and very few parking spots and as Coco's perch occupies part of a metered zone and due to zero tolerance rules, the local police have ordered Mr. Michalopoulos to pay the heavy fine; which is the equivalent of £320!

The pet shop owner says he has ignored the authorities because if Coco goes back inside the store permanently the macaw will die because he is a sociable creature who enjoys being with people.

Naturally, Patras's Deputy Mayor Spiros Demartinos is embarrassed that Coco's plight is now attracting international attention. He would prefer to talk about the city's ambitious plans to use parking revenue for funding bicycle lanes and pedestrian zones.

"Is it bureaucratic to be concerned about the parrot's safety?" he asks. "The parrot's security is of paramount concern to the council."

Despite the dispute now entering the legal arena, Coco's owner is hoping that the case will be laughed out of court.

Just as much as we are laughing at the Patras local council right now!