Mickey, the cockatoo that spent a month dining on brioche while trapped in a western Sydney supermarket, is finally headed back to the wild.

Joyful animal rescuers revealed on Wednesday morning that Mickey had finally been captured and removed from the Coles at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown.

The bird had eluded all kinds of capture plans for weeks, after flying into the supermarket through the loading bay. He had dined on Coles brioche and water left out by a kind-hearted manager.

But there were concerns Mickey was exhausted and stressed by an environment where there was never any complete darkness.

He had even diced with death, with reports on Tuesday that a kill order had been issued.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe was quick to assure people there was no licence to kill Mickey, and instead efforts to capture him alive would continue.

In the end, his capture and removal from the shopping centre was quite straightforward.

Campbelltown local Ravi Wasan, the director of the nearby Feathered Friends sanctuary, turned to a female buddy to lure Mickey from his retail haven.

“If you had a net or basket, he was so scared. I went to a bird sanctuary and grabbed the sweetest cockatoo. I brought her with me to convince Mickey we’re safe and we’re trying to be friends,” he told the ABC on Wednesday.

“Doris, to be honest, did most of the work. As soon as I put Doris out [on Tuesday afternoon], Mickey came and flew straight down, which was really cool to see. He would have missed being with any other cockatoo.

“That’s kind of how we got the ball rolling. And then that afternoon is where it started to change. I went back at two o’clock when he was hungry … Doris was doing everything she could, to get Mickey’s attention.”

Wasan said Mickey was quick to arrive when he put Doris on a shopping trolley and started feeding her.

“Mickey saw that, flew over. I kept feeding Doris. And there was like 20 attempts. He kept flying off because he was so untrusting,” he said.

“Then he realised, if I’m feeding Doris, I’m a good guy, I’m not going to hurt him. Eventually he started eating out of my hand. Using Doris, we lured him into a cage and I ran in and shut the door.”

By Wednesday, Mickey was safely tucked up in the Feathered Friends sanctuary.

He’s due for vet check-ups and some rehabilitation – and time with Doris – before he is returned to the wild.

“They’re sitting together right now. She’s one of the trained cockies. She’s really good at telling Mickey that everything is all right. And it will be a nice release, I think,” Wasan said.