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Writer's pictureThe Plumery

LOST BIRDS – IT ONLY TAKES ONE MISTAKE

Read this BEFORE your bird is lost!Too often I have seen someone walk around outdoors with an unclipped, unleashed parrot on hand or shoulder. If questioned, the person confidently proclaims, “my bird never flies off.” And then the next day the individual is looking for that parrot who has been startled into flight.

Call it reality or truth: There is no such thing as an unclipped bird who never flies away, only one who hasn’t taken off yet.

Sometimes an escape happens because a clipped bird has regrown enough wing feathers to get airborne. Sometimes an unclipped bird flies out when a door is mistakenly left open or a carrying cage is dropped. I knew a woman who lost her cockatoo because he flew into a window screen with enough force to knock it out.

Birds may get loose an infinite number of ways. Here are some tips if it happens to you. KEEP IN MIND:

  • There’s a good chance the parrot will not fly far... right away.

  • A bird who was not given the opportunity to develop flying skills probably will not be able to fly downward or to turn. It will simply fly straight, possibly gaining some altitude.

  • Even a skillful flying bird may become disoriented, unfamiliar with any landmarks.

  • An escaped bird will not behave as usual when at home; a parrot who always responds to a song or whistle may remain silent.

  • A bird, possibly landing nearby, may be startled or frightened into flying all over again by crows or other wild birds or unfamiliar noises.

  • You may be close to your bird yet not see it.

  • Parrots are most likely to vocalize (and respond to you or a bird of the same species) between dawn and full daylight or at sunset until dusk.


WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • DON’T expect your bird to return on his/her own. No matter how much your bird loves you and wants to be back home in familiar surroundings with a full food dish, the bird may not be able to return for reasons mentioned above.

  • DON’T give up too soon. Depending on the weather and food sources, an escaped bird might survive for some time. And some people, who find a bird, do not post a “found” notice or know where to look for a “lost” notice.

  • DON’T try to spray your bird with water to stop its flight. Doing so will almost certainly cause the bird to keep flying, long before it is wet enough to impair its flight.

  • DON’T do anything likely to startle your bird into flight again, if the bird is still nearby. That means nets, carriers, and ladders must be used judiciously, if at all. People, who might inadvertently frighten your bird, must be cautioned to keep their distance while still assisting with the steps below.


WHAT TO DO:

  • Start searching and listening the moment you know your bird is gone.

  • If you have a recording of your bird or one of the same species (make sure it doesn’t include alarm calls), play it frequently from your home. If your bird is nearby, familiar sounds can keep him oriented to his home base.

  • Put your bird’s cage outside, door open, with favorite food and water inside. If needed for more than a day, bring it in at night but put it out at first light. Frankly, most birds will not return to the cage. But if the bird is very close and has flying skills, it could work and is worth trying.

  • If your bird has a bird friend, put that bird outside in a cage or aviary or by an open window, if you can do so safely. You want the birds to be able to call to each other.

  • If you see or hear your bird, talk to it calmly and try to maintain constant observation. If she flies again, you want to determine at least the direction and ideally the next landing spot.

  • Let your neighbors – adults and kids – know you have lost your bird.

  • Post notices, preferably with a photo. Offering a reward can get attention.

  • Put a notice in local print papers and websites that have lost and found sections.

  • Call every animal shelter in your area, including government shelters and private rescue and humane organizations. Search for bird lost and found websites. Don’t rely on species names or descriptions to determine whether a bird in a shelter is yours. If they have ANY bird, go see it or have them send you a good photo.


IF YOU LOCATE YOUR BIRD IN A TREE...

  • Keep the bird in your sight. Talk calmly. Perhaps make food noises if your bird knows the sound of pellets shaken in a dish or the crinkle of a bag of nuts.

  • Try to determine if your bird has the ability to come down to you. A bird, who is not an experienced flyer, will not be able to fly down to you and may not be able even to hop down a foot or two to a lower branch. Can the bird climb down? How far apart are the branches? Are they too thick for the bird to hang from by beak or foot to work its way down?

  • A desperate parrot may eventually attempt a clumsy scramble and be successful. But the attempt could also result in the bird taking to the air again. If you think the bird can make its way to you and seems to be trying, calmly encourage your feathered friend rather than try to climb up yourself and risk frightening the bird. However, if you believe the bird has no way to come down, consider if you can safely climb to the bird. Can you get to the first branch or do you need a ladder? Clanking a big extension ladder under the tree might well scare your bird into flight!

  • If you decide to go up into the tree, you probably will not be able to also hold a carrier. As an alternative, hang a cloth shopping bag around your neck to put the bird in for the climb down. If nothing else is available, when you reach the bird, stuff it into your tucked-in shirt and risk a claw scratch or a beak bite. The point is for your bird to be safe and in your care.


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