[The Outlaw]

Tips For Finding Your Lost Parrot

·AROUND HOME: Search for your bird in your
neighborhood. During the first month birds
tend to stay within a mile radius of home.
Spread the word to neighbors and neighborhood
children that your bird has escaped and let them
know what your bird looks like. While searching
bring along a favorite toy or treat.
Make familiar sounds.

· Put your bird’s cage outside so if he’s
near-by he/she can see it. Many times, your bird
may be near but too scared to even vocalize to
let you know it. The cage and familiar toys will
help to entice him/her.

· If your bird has a favorite feathered friend,
bring him/her outside (in his/her cage). You’ll only
want to do this if you are home to watch over things
to insure the safety of your bird’s friend and his/her cage.

· If you have any outside pets your bird doesn’t
like or fears, be sure to bring them in so they won’t
scare your bird away.

· AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Keep in touch with
your neighbors. Make sure they know how to contact
you if they even THINK they’ve heard or seen him/her.

· It’s quite possible that once your bird gets
hungry, he/she will go to any human. Make sure you
post signs (at least in a one mile radius near where
your parrot escaped) describing your bird and giving
contact information.

· AROUND YOUR AREA: Post signs in local
veterinarian’s offices, pet stores, apartment bulletin
boards (usually near the mailboxes areas). Have your
kids post signs on the school’s bulletin board.
Anywhere you think the signs will be noticed.

If you really get the word out there, it increases
the chances that your bird may be returned.

· Contact your area animal rescue/shelters and
have them put your bird on file so they can look out
for it. Make sure they have a way to contact you.
Call them every few days to make sure you keep it
fresh on their minds. Be sure to ask how long they
keep a lost animal on file and be sure to call back
and re-list your bird if you’re still looking for him/her.

· Also, contact any local bird breeders and let them
know about your lost bird. Speak with managers at your
local pet stores and let them know when you post the lost
bird poster on their bulletin board. Let them know to be
on the lookout. Sometimes people ‘find’ parrots and try
to sell them to pet shops for quick cash.

· Place a LOST ad in your area newspaper. If you offer
a reward it may increase the chances that your bird will be
returned. On all posters, ads, etc. make sure you mention how
your lost bird is ‘family’ to you (and your children perhaps).
Stress how much you care for your bird and it may help to
persuade someone who may not initially intend on returning a
‘found’ bird.

· If you do recover your lost bird, make sure to let
you neighbors know and thank them for any help. Make sure
you remove all the posters you put up and contact anyone
you called to be on the lookout and let them know.


Preventative Steps

· If your birds are non-flighted make sure you have
their wings clipped properly and regularly. Inspect your
birds wings weekly so you can make a wingclip appointment
if necessary. Sometimes the wingfeathers can grow in rapidly.
If your birds are flighted, provide them with a safe area
to fly in where people will not be opening and closing
doors/windows frequently.(designated bird room or flight aviary).
Make sure the birds can’t escape those designated areas and check
on them regularly.

· When you travel with your bird, use a bird harness or a
travel carrier. Even with clipped wings, a gust of wind or something
frightening them will allow them to take flight.

· Legbands can be used for identification of your lost bird/s
but are fairly easily removed. Consider having your birds
microchipped. A microchip is about the size of a grain of
rice and is inserted into your bird’s breast-muscle where
it will stay for life. These chips can be scanned for their
ID number, which will tell the pet owner’s name and contact
information. This provides proof of ownership as well.
There are many Veterinarians and humane organizations
already using microchip scanners. If your Vet’s office doesn’t
do microchipping yet, ask if they will consider it.
Some microchipping companies will give the scanner to a Vet’s
office for free, with the agreement that they will encourage
pet owners to do microchipping.