For the past 20 years the courtyard at the Sandlewood Suites in Mississauga has been graced by different peacocks the hotel purchases to enhance the optics for their guests.

This year's summertime acquisition ---- a brilliantly coloured bird named Piper, arrived on the weekend, but his stay was uncomfortably short-lived.

"He decided to just fly off," said Vijay Pahuja, Sandlewood Suites.

"We want to make sure that he is safe, he's just two years old right now, so he's pretty young."

Since then Piper has been spotted perched high in a treetop not far from the hotel at Eglinton and Matheson Boulevard. 

Hotel staff planned to retrieve their feathered friend, but they were too late. When they finally made their move, he was gone again and hasn't been seen since.

"We are concerned for the welfare of the bird because of the weather conditions, also the area he's in he's at risk with regards to traffic or predation by coyotes or other animals," said Lisa Dent, Mississauga Animal Services.

If you spot Piper, call Mississauga Animal Services.