While a bird up a tree might not be considered an emergency to some, Pretty Face is the much-loved tame pet of Karen Rennick who lives a couple of doors down from the intersection.

Two-year-old Pretty Face - gender yet to be absolutely determined - has had free run of the Rennick house for the 12 months since Mrs Rennick’s son bought the bird in Brisbane as a gift to his mother. Pretty Face slipped out the front door as Mrs Rennick was coming in, prompting a frantic search of the nearby area.

Mrs Rennick said she was just about to jump in the car to search farther afield when she heard Pretty Face calling from high up in the tree.

Mrs Rennick, and the 000 operator she spoke to, were unsure if the situation constituted an emergency but Tenterfield Fire Service and SES duly arrived.

Fire Captain Jim Flynn said the team had to rope and pull back a tree branch to allow ladder access when the branch snapped and spooked the bird.

It flew to a nearby tree that was too near power lines for the ladder but some gentle persuasion from a fire hose brought it to the ground and into the arms of its relieved owner.

While such callouts are infrequent, Captain Flynn said they were a part of the job and the team was happy to help.

“We’re here to protect life and property,” he said.

Mrs Rennick said the rescuers were “brilliant, just brilliant”, and thanked them for their efforts.

“I would have been in big trouble if my son came home and found the bird was gone,” she said.