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Thread: Tips to Recover A lost Bird

 
  1. #1
    Banned



    Tips to Recover A lost Bird

    Copyright The West Valley Bird Society 2007-2015


    Chinese Proverb:
    You cannot prevent birds of sorrow from flying overhead,
    but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.

    Tips to Recover a Lost Bird
    (from the 911 Parrot Alert Facebook Page, there also is a 911parrotalert.com Website)

    By Bev Moody
    Be sure to be outside before dawn and at least an hour before dusk to look for him or her. Walk the streets. Call (calmly and sweetly - a scared or worried voice is not good) and then BE SILENT for a few minutes and LISTEN HARD for any response - do NOT call non-stop! Birds are usually scared when they are lost and become very quiet! You could pass right by him or her and not even know it! There is much helpful info in the links below. Your bird WILL BE LOOKING for you but he/she won't be able to find you unless you are OUT THERE and he/she can SEE YOU! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! When a bird escapes Go out and search immediately. There is still a chance of quickly retrieving your bird if it has not gotten too far away. Look in the trees right above you. Your bird may have landed there and never make a sound. Lost birds are usually scared and often get very quiet! You could pass right by her and not even know it! Your bird may see you before you see it. In this case, parrots are sometimes very quiet because your presence has allowed the bird to relax. Therefore look carefully. Despite some parrots bright colors, they can be very difficult to see in trees. Look for movement buried in the trees as opposed to your whole bird just sitting there.
    Your bird may never be closer to you than it is during these initial hours. Solicit any help you can especially children. Kids notice things adults may not. They see from a different perspective and are at eye-level to bushes and see lower to the ground.

    As much as possible during daylight, be outside looking. Walk the streets or use a bicycle. Call to her using words, songs, sounds, whistles, etc., that your bird likes. Sound happy, not scared. Unless you sound happy she may think there is something wrong and may not call back. Do not call non-stop. After you call, be silent for a few minutes and listen very hard for any sound you think could be your bird, then head in that direction, Your bird WILL be LOOKING for YOU but she can't find you unless you are OUT THERE and she can SEE YOU!
    Be sure to be outside looking/listening before dawn and 2 hours before sunset. Birds are usually more vocal and active at those times. Traffic and other sounds are usually the quietest before dawn and you may be able to hear each other better then. Please do NOT depend on others to find her. Stay out looking as much as possible. Talk to as many people as you can when you are looking - do not be afraid if people think you are crazy!
    Be prepared to stay a while. Bring a backpack with water and food for yourself and your bird, your fully charged cell phone, a jacket, sweater or blanket if it might get cold. A pillowcase may be helpful to put the bird in if you think she might bite you or struggle because she is afraid. You may want to bring a bird friend of hers in a locked cage if you think it may entice her down. You may also want to bring an empty cage.
    When you find your bird Once you find your bird, relax (unless the bird is in immediate danger) It is better to let the bird sit there (if she is inaccessible) while you and she work out a strategy. Do not frantically try to grab the bird or scare it down.
    It may be best to keep all strangers away (if you can) so the bird will stay calm and so she can concentrate on you and what her next move should be. Keep talking to her very calmly so she thinks everything is okay. If you can't get close, show her the full water and food bowls (filled to the brim with a favorite treat), tap on it with a spoon and use words you use when you feed her at home.
    Try to lure your bird to fly or climb to branches/objects that are similar to those upon which she is sitting if possible. A bird may be too frightened to climb onto a distinctly different perch. (For example, the bird might be afraid to climb off of a tree onto a fence.) If you have no other option, expect the process to be slower and be patient with your bird as she builds her confidence. She may also fly again if she touches the new perch and is frightened by it.
    Be careful not to ask your bird to fly from a great height or a steep angle. Try to position yourself, a bird friend, cage, etc. to allow short flights or short climbs to lower places. If that is not possible try longer flights that are not steep.
    Do not raise unfamiliar objects up to your bird to have it step onto. More than likely this will only scare your bird to fly farther away. If you have a familiar item, you may have a chance that the bird will step onto it. Keep in mind things like ladders, people climbing trees, cherry pickers etc. may also scare your bird. Go extremely slowly if you resort to using these items. Stop if the bird looks like it wants to fly away.
    On occasion hide nearby from the bird. This will create a level of anxiety in the bird which may cause it to try to come to you. Usually the bird will scream and or start moving around a lot when you hide for a few minutes. When you reappear, she may try to come down.
    If you hear your bird screaming while you are hiding, she may be ready to fly or is already in the air. Come out of hiding right away. Most parrots scream when they are flying in this type of situation. Birds also often relieve themselves and scream right before they fly. Be alert for this. You may need to see where your bird flies. Be ready to run if necessary. Avoid having a crowd of people around. A scared bird will not want to fly into a crowd of strangers.
    What sometimes works is to set up a picnic where your bird can see and hear you. It may help her overcome any fear and try to get to you. Have a cage with lots of food and favorite treats.
    Always stay calm and act happy so she thinks it is safe to try to climb or fly to you. Do not give up. It is often the third day of being out that they will seriously try to get to you or another human. By the third day their hunger will usually overtake any fear they have. Seeing the world from the sky is new for your bird and it may take some time to learn to negotiate this new environment.
    If she is out of reach and it's almost dark, she may not fly again until dawn. However, she may fly in the dark if startled by noise, wind, shadows, etc. Sometimes birds "jump" when startled and then find themselves up in the air flying, by accident. If possible, camp overnight where she is. If you can't stay with her, return at least an hour before dawn and keep trying. Never lose sight of her if at all possible. Call other people to bring you what you need.
    After dark (when you are not out looking). Put a lost ad in print newspapers as well as on-line newspapers.
    Contact veterinarians, your local animal control, Humane Society and any parrot rescue groups in your area. Let them know you have lost your parrot and give them your contact number.
    Print out and put up as many flyers as you can in the area she was lost from and the area you think she flew to. Place flyers in mailboxes as you place posters around the neighborhood on grocery store bulletin boards, laundromats, pet stores, veterinarian bulletin boards, around schools, parks, rec centers, wherever a lot of people gather. Talk to as many people as you can while you’re out.
    Free Flyers to print (you can add your own information):
    http://www.goodbirdinc.com/help-lostbirdflyers.html
    After you recover your bird Some people clip their bird after they get them back, but don't do it unless you believe there is a very great chance this could happen again. You probably know that clipping does NOT mean they cannot fly. They can still fly especially if there is any wind at all to give them a little lift. They may not be able to fly as high or as well to evade predators. Do a lot of reading about the pros and cons of clipping before you decide. Of course clipping IS temporary and feathers do grow back, so it's not the end of the world. I have clipped when the danger of getting loose was temporarily very high, or to slow down an aggressive or fearful bird.

  2. The following 2 users like this post:

    Lady (05-22-2016), Mare (05-22-2016)

  3. #2
    Nobility Member
    Mare's Avatar


    Parrots

    Sassy Goffin's girl, she IS Sassy Amigo, male umbrella cockatoo Chip! The cockatiel! The sweet, sweet Jellybean!
    Good info! Thanks for sharing, Suzanne!

  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Casper's 2nd best friend's Avatar


    Parrots

    Casper, a blue fronted Amazon. Loves banana. Hates plastic bags and red coats.
    Some good tips, hopefully she has just sat down and thought it all through as it does read as if she is a serial bird loser.
    "A busy beak is a happy beak" - David Strom

  5. The following user likes this post:

    Mare (05-22-2016)

  6. #4
    Banned



    Quote Originally Posted by Casper's 2nd best friend View Post
    Some good tips, hopefully she has just sat down and thought it all through as it does read as if she is a serial bird loser.
    OMG...Jean-Pierre, you never cease to make me smile

  7. The following 2 users like this post:

    Casper's 2nd best friend (05-23-2016), Mare (05-22-2016)

  8. #5
    Nobility Member
    Mare's Avatar


    Parrots

    Sassy Goffin's girl, she IS Sassy Amigo, male umbrella cockatoo Chip! The cockatiel! The sweet, sweet Jellybean!
    If your bird loves you..is bonded to you, it will not go too far. It will wait for you to come find him/her.

  9. The following 2 users like this post:

    Casper's 2nd best friend (05-23-2016), Lady (05-26-2016)

  10. #6
    Senior Member
    Casper's 2nd best friend's Avatar


    Parrots

    Casper, a blue fronted Amazon. Loves banana. Hates plastic bags and red coats.
    So that is why you are training us up with where's Waldo, making us all good bird spotters
    "A busy beak is a happy beak" - David Strom

  11. The following 2 users like this post:

    Mare (05-23-2016), The Pinkertons (05-26-2016)

  12. #7
    Nobility Member
    Mare's Avatar


    Parrots

    Sassy Goffin's girl, she IS Sassy Amigo, male umbrella cockatoo Chip! The cockatiel! The sweet, sweet Jellybean!
    Jean-Pierre, I'm just a lucky woman! I've been fortunate in many ways but NEVER count on anything!

  13. The following user likes this post:

    The Pinkertons (05-26-2016)

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