THE owner of three noisy parrots who have been ruffling the feathers of Portland residents defended her birds at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

Deborah Coleman, of Underhedge Gardens, Southwell, is appealing against a noise abatement order issued by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council last September after several complaints from her neighbours.

She told the court she has emotional investment in the Amazonian parrots - Shilo which she has owned for more than 20 years, Ozzie for 19, and Jengko some 12 years.

The court was told that the order to abate the noise within 21 days was not possible - it was claimed that such sensitive creatures needed gradual changes.

Ms Coleman, 50, said: "I believe that you can hear them but it is not a statutory nuisance. Some neighbours who live closer than the complainants say there is no problem. This is going to sound really stupid but I have an emotional investment.

"I had a stressful job before, working with mentally disturbed people and as a professional I couldn't talk to friends about rape victims so I used to go home and tell the parrots.

"It was my way of de-stressing and dealing with my work. I feel I owe them."

The court was told that Ms Coleman spent £5,000 on building the birds' aviary and, in response to complaints, another £5,000 on blinds between her home and the parrot-house so they can not see her through the window and squawk in excitement.

She had changed the parrots' breakfast to their favourite meal of fruit and vegetables to encourage them to tuck in quicker and reduce the noise. She also painted their birdhouse ceiling a jungle' green to soothe them.

The court was told that while it was possible to move the parrots indoors it would mean £5,000 of conversion work and the necessary extraction fan could eradicate any benefit.

Ms Coleman added: "Not one of the neighbours who complained to the council has ever approached me personally to say there was a problem. When I got the two letters of complaint from the council I felt I was under attack. I've lived in five other houses and have never had a problem."

Gary Lucie, representing the council, said at the last hearing six people from three households said the noisy parrots made their lives a misery but conceded disturbances had decreased in recent months.

The court was told that one man said their squawking sounded as if hearing his wife had discovered a dead baby.

Mr Lucie said the problem arose in the morning and evening when the birds moved from their overnight conservatory into their flight cage, and the Deeney family had recorded 40 seconds of audio of 36 squawks in a row.

Six other neighbours gave evidence defending Ms Coleman's birds saying it was no more disruptive than other community noises such as dogs barking or children playing.

The case will resume at Weymouth Magistrates Court on February 21, 2008.