Lost cat notices are the most common ones we see posted around the neighborhood. But what happens when a pet bird runs flies away? We'd never really thought about this matter until we read these tips on eHow...
How To... Get a Lost Bird to Come Home
The tips from eHow's How to Find a Lost Bird include:
- Put the bird's toys in the window: "With the right familiar objects, you won't have to find your lost bird. He or she will simply be attracted to a favorite object. Open the window closest to where your bird's cage is kept. Move the cage as close to the window as you can, allowing both you and your bird easy access to the cage door. Set the toy close to the door with a colorful bit exposed so it can be seen from the window. Wait."
- Hang the bird's cage outside: "If your bird has not returned after an hour, you may wish to move the bird's cage outdoors. This will allow your bird to see and have access to a familiar environment without returning inside the home. Be sure to hang the cage in a location where other animals cannot access it. Add a favorite food at the farthest end from the cage door. For your bird's safety, make sure you are there to supervise while the cage is outdoors. You must be able to close the birdcage door behind them and move them immediately inside and away from predators."
These seem like sensible tips to us. Have any Apartment Therapy readers ever lost and found a pet bird? Any additional tips for this unusual situation?
Comments (11)
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I used to have 2 cockatiels that were lost when my roommate accidentally left the deck door open. I did leave the cage w/ food & water on the porch for weeks, but they never came back. (It's unlikely that a bird will return once they're free, but it doesn't hurt to try leaving the cage out for awhile.) The upside to my story is that a friend saw one of my birds chirping up a storm in Golden Gate Park a few days later. I'm hoping that Pierre joined the Parrots of Telegraph Hill. You never know...
view RedBirdCabin's profile
When I was a kid we had a lovebird. And one day, while soaking in the rays outside (we used to bring her outside - in her cage of course), another lovebird came along. I guess it had escaped from a pet store. It was attracted to our bird's voice. So if you've got more than one bird, open the windows or bring those birds outside to let their song carry.
view adorninc.wordpress.com's profile
I found a Peach-Faced Lovebird on my roof. I talked nicely to it and held my finger up, and it flew down. It first landed on my car, then took off and landed in the middle of the road. I of course ran after it. I had to reach for it from the top, so that when it tried to fly off, it flew into my hands. We had Mrs. Bigglesworth for several years since there were no notices about a missing bird anywhere. She was originally named Mr. Bigglesworth, until she laid an egg.
view VickiG's profile
vickiG, i like you story. :)
view luxeandjacs's profile
If a caged bird manages to escape, good for it!!!
Sorry, but I detest the concept and the practice of caging birds. I mean, think about it: denying an animal of its ability to FLY purely for one's own entertainment.
WTF???
view modtramp's profile
Stop the cruelty. Set the birds FREE!
view Sabrina Mix's profile
I would let them free if there weren't so many dickheads out there. My husband and I have 3 parrots that spend their day out on their playstands and will go out with us with a harness on. While I'd like to be optimistic about people and other animals, I've read, heard, seen too many bad things happening to them.
Sometimes I get scared having them since they tend to be pricey in some states, and are stolen. One gal had hers taken and later got a call from the cops saying they found her macaw with several tail feathers and such plucked out and put him into a plastic bag... Left in the gutter. When these assholes decide to stop, maybe I can let them go... But I'm happy knowing they are safe and they're happy that they didn't get owners that treat them as if they're decorations. Sorry for the rant.
view dunklekatze's profile
When I was 12 my delightful parakeet, trained and with the run of the house, flew out the sliding door when it was left open by a visiting child. Terrified for him, the whole family went ranging the neighborhood calling for him without luck. I went to bed in tears.
The next day my dad was mowing the lawn and caught a glimpse of him (he was a blue and white one) in the hedge behind the house, and when he held up his finger the poor thing went right to it. He was quivering in terror. After that, he never ever went out a window or door, no matter how long it was left open!
view bookgirl82's profile
My aunt and uncle had a budgie fly in the window they advertised but no one claimed him. They called him 'Sandy'.
One day about 12 years later he said 'Joey's a good boy'.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
When I was little, my brother and I spotted a bright yellow canary on the back porch. We didn't have a bird cage but we did have an old rabbit one so we it put outside. As we watched from the window, it flew over to the cage and proceeded to hop around it looking for the door (which was on top) and when we tipped it on its side, the bird flew right in. Thus, Larry (Bird) became a LOUD but melodic member of the family. Lesson = make sure the cage door is on the side.
view fouxdafafa's profile
Nice thought that birds have a better life outside, but sadly they usually only last a year living outdoors.
When I look at the birds my extended has as pets, those birds are going on 20 years old and get tons of love and affection and have the run/fly of the their remodeled basement.
Toys, puzzles, their own place to sleep, special food, regular vet care, and 13 other birds to keep them company sounds better than freezing or starving to death outside or getting creamed by a truck.
view visual's profile