A registered sex offender was in custody on charges of violating probation after allegedly trying to coax several children to play with his pet parrot near the Huntington Beach pier.

Michael Joseph DeSilva, 65, of Newport Beach, was arrested and booked into the Huntington Beach jail on Saturday. The parrot, named Mango, was taken by Orange County animal control officers, police said.

Authorities received a call about 4:15 p.m. of a suspicious man near Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway who was talking to children and trying to get them to play with the parrot. When police arrived there were no children present, but upon questioning the man they determined he was a registered sex offender.

After contacting his probation officer police concluded that, based on his activity, DeSilva had violated his probation, Lt. Russell Reinhart said.

Anyone who witnessed DeSilva making contact with children or attempting to was asked to contact Huntington Beach police at (714) 960-8825.

-- Carla Rivera