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Foster Parrots, Ltd.
Recovering an Escapee

We occasionally get calls to assist someone with locating a parrot who has become lost. The following is information intended to help with the recovery of an escaped bird. Many escaped birds are kept clipped and escape when one or two flight feathers grow in unnoticed by the guardian. Sometimes a door or window is carelessly left ajar and the bird gets out. Often the caregiver may forget the bird is on his or her shoulder when collecting the mail, the daily paper or greeting someone at the door. Other people may bring their birds outside on purpose with the intention of getting them some fresh air and sunshine without knowing that birds can fly easily should a sudden gust of wind offer the lift needed despite clipped wings. An escaped bird often will not even recognize his or her own home, and some suggest that it is wise to acclimatize your bird to their own yard and outdoor surroundings.

Captive exotic birds, once free, will not immediately know how to find food or water. After a couple of days of freedom they will rely on instinct and usually are able to find a bird feeder or pond. Many will land on an unsuspecting stranger in search of food. Most captive exotic birds have no ability to escape predators and many will meet their demise as a meal for a hawk or cat. Extreme weather can also play a part in the bird's mortality, but many birds have been known to survive for months if they are clever enough to find a shelter to roost in. Two Orange Wing Amazons survived an entire winter in Maine by sleeping in an abandoned squirrel's nest.

It is important to let people with escaped birds know that they should not quit looking or stop putting up flyers. The one thing to remember here is DON'T GIVE UP! In an average year at Foster Parrots most of the lost birds that are reported to us were returned after someone saw a flyer.

If The Bird's Whereabouts Are Not Known
If the guardian does not know the whereabouts of the bird, one must take steps to find out where it is, where it is eating (often a fruit tree in season or a birdfeeder in someone's backyard) or sleeping. Contact the local animal control agencies, the police, all veterinary clinics, pet supply and pet stores (they may not help, but they can serve as a contact should someone report seeing your bird). Make flyers with the bird's photo and distribute them to all known pet or animal related groups. Offer a reward of $50.00 - $100.00. Post flyers at schools, on telephone poles and in shop windows within a five-mile radius of your home. If possible, increase this area by 5 miles within the next day and then one mile per day thereafter. One bird was recently found more than 100 miles from home within one week and birds are frequently found within a ten-mile radius of home.

Walk the neighborhood. Ask joggers and children to be alert (it is good to have business cards or flyers to give everyone you talk to), pass out the flyers and try to find the people in your neighborhood that keep their birdfeeders well stocked. Ask them to be alert for your bird. Hopefully these steps will result in locating your flighted friend.

Recovering An Escapee
Once the guardian knows where the escaped bird is, they can make attempts to coax the bird down with treats or even attempt to climb the tree. If the guardian does decide to climb the tree, they should take a pillow case, tucked in the belt or back of the trousers, with a long length of clothesline attached so that the bird can be lowered to the ground when captured. This will be easier and safer than trying to climb down with a potentially biting or struggling bird. This method usually works with an extremely tame bird. Most birds will fly off as one gets closer. Two people should be involved to keep track of where the bird goes should it fly off.

If none of the above work it will be necessary to trap the escaped bird.

Locate two or three old cockatiel-sized cages. Larger cages will be needed for Macaws. Contact local animal rescue groups and wildlife rehabilitators for old cages to borrow. Get permission from homeowners in your neighborhood to put a cage in the yard or trees. They are usually happy to give permission to do so. If possible, get the homeowners and their family to check the cages frequently.

One of the birds we recently caught was actually caught by a homeowner who shut the door to the cage and then called Foster Parrots to come and get the bird.

Put a cage on the ground and sprinkle seed around the opening, lots of peanuts, apples and favorite foods inside. Put another cage in a tree frequented by your feathered friend, if you know of such a tree.

To get the cage into the tree:

• Put two rolls of pennies into an old and sturdy sock. Tie this to the end of a long length of clothes line coiled neatly on the ground. Throw the weighted end over the highest branch possible or the branch nearest the bird's favorite spot. Be careful not to spook the bird; they usually will not fly away if you manage to get the rope over on the first or second try, but repeated attempts might scare them away.

• Tie a smaller string to the door of the cage in such a way as to act as a closeable trap door. Tie one end to the cage door and thread it through the back of the cage so that a tug will shut the door and then hoist the cage into the tree. Trail these strings away from the cage to a distance of 40 or 50 feet and possibly in a place where you can hide i.e. behind a bush or building.

Tend the cages daily and continue to look for other places the bird may be hanging around. Don't give up, the one thing that every person who used this method told us was that we were the only ones to give them hope and that this message kept them looking.

If you need help, please feel free to Contact Us.

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