After a three day stand-off, an escaped cockatiel who watched her owner’s attempts to recapture her from atop a tall tree, is finally home.

Khughi flew out of the garden of her home in Leybourne Road, Strood on Monday evening.

From borrowing two other cockatiels, to playing videos of the bird herself, her family tried everything to get her to come down.

After she disappeared, her worried owners spent all night searching and were able to hear her sharp screech which distinguishes her from native species.

The small bird, who appears in several YouTube videos, replied “hello” when they called her but they could not see her.

On Tuesday morning they found her on the roof of the Abbey Court School and owner Usha Sheikh, placed Khughi’s cage along with her companion Tweety in the school playground, which is behind their house, in the hope his presence would entice her back home.

Mrs Sheikh said they had called the fire brigade who advised her to call the RSPB, but they said there was nothing they could do.

Her husband, Abdul, went up on a ladder to try to bring her down but she flew away into a neighbour’s tree, where she remained until last night.

Mrs Sheikh said: “We tried very hard to get her down. She flew two or three times around the house but every time came back to the same tree. Around 3.30pm the magpies started bothering Khughi and we tried our best to keep them away.

“My husband climbed up on the tree and after many attempts he was able to grab her. It was hard work but worth it. Finally she is back. She went three days without food and water, but she survived.”

She added: “We are really thankful to all who helped us in this missing Khughi mission.”