PLEASE HELP...Need info!!!

[Patty Rabbitt]

My baby Sydney left our home accidently on 7/28/09. He has been out in the wild ever since. I had three calls yesterday all from the same general area saying they saw him. One lady actually "almost" got Syd to land on her, as she was in her yard, (she has received one of many post cards in her mailbox from me and saw the poster at the local sotre) she spotted him for the second time yesterday. She started calling to him, asking if he was hungry, and put her arm out for him to land. Syd circled about 3 times, and looked like he was going to land, but then the lady's cat came out of her barn, and Syd flew away. Twenty minutes later, I got another call from a neighbor saying she had spotted him about half a mile from the first sighting. Of course as soon as I get there he has moved on, but it seems he is staying in this general vivinity. The major problem is that we are in the country, and the area he is in is VERY wooded. I have already received permission from all land owners to go in search any time I need to, but now that I know what area he is in, how do I narrow the search? I have his "outside" cage set up, with food and water in it, but he has not entered it. It is along this stretch of property where he has been sighted many times. I am terrified that the weather is getting TOO cold for him. It has dropped down as cold as 46 degrees at night several times, and he aparently lived through those nights, but the longer this goes on, the worse it is going to get. Last night is was 49. Please....Please, if you have any ideas....share them with me. It is killing me knowing he is SO close, but I can't get to him. Anyone

[Voslover]

Please give us more information about Sydney...

What kind of bird?
Age?
General health?
Will the bird generally socialize with other people (will it willingly interact)?
Favorite foods, toys?
Talking?...if so, what words or phrases?

[Voslover]

Also, where are you geographically located?

[Patty Rabbitt]

Sydney is an African Gray Congo, and is 4 years old. I got Syd at 10 DAYS old, and my husband and myself have been his sole flock. He was in outstanding health, (obviously to survive almost 2 months alone in the wild).
He says all kinds of stuff. Such as: What's Up Buttercup?"
What's New Bubbaloo? Hungry....Justice NO BARK (our dog) He makes a clapping hands noise and yells WHOO-HOO. He whistles the entire theme to the Andy Griffith Show. I truly could go on and on....
He is use to "seeing" people in and out of our home, but he does not normally "go to" anyone but myself and my husband. I would have thought that he would have landed on a man by now. (he prefers men) Apparently, I am mistaken. Yesterday, when he attempted to land on my neighbor, she was calling his name and asking if he was hungry. He is located in Erie, Pa.
I think I answered most of your inquiries. Any help you could offer me would be VERY much appreciated. I am beside myself knowing he is so close, but yet so far away. Thank You

[Lisa B]

Look high and LOW. they tend to hide and be quiet.
if you have a recording of him, play it and wait to hear his responce. See if you can place a cage outside where he has been seen. Place some foods ontop and more inside. Be there at sun up and sun down to listen.

[Lori~D]

Erie PA, . Ok. It helps to find someone who is close with another outgoing grey. If they bring theirs out the calls can attract your bird from a great distance. I have done this for others but you are too far from me. 49 at night is not too cold yet. he will be Ok even into the low fourties. Its predatory birds that are main concern. H eshould be getting REAl HUNGRY AS WELL so his favorite food should be brought to every sighting esp stuff you share with him.

[Voslover]

Thanks for the good information. I live in FL, but coincidentally, my daughter lives about 1 mile east of the Erie airport. Is this anywhere near you? Either way, I will forward the information about Sydney to her and make sure she informs all of her friends of your plight. The more people are aware, the better opportunity you have of getting Sydney back before the real cold weather sets in.

I know you must be terribly distraught but do not give up hope…keep pressing on! There are many wonderful stories of FIDS being reunited with their flock after long periods of time.

God bless you and Sydney.

[slanttop357]

Sorry to hear about your CAG mY CAG has been missing for 10 days now i have had 2 people call me about seeing my gray but i have had no leads in 7 days i think iam feeling better now because i stopped beating myself up, all this could of been avoided if i would of had Dougs wings clipped, any way good luck finding your baby, regards Craig.

[Monica]

Originally Posted by slanttop357

all this could of been avoided if i would of had Dougs wings clipped

I'm sorry, but that's a false sense of security. I've heard of stories of even clipped birds taking flight... one in particular, a scarlet macaw, *JUST* clipped, took off in flight. A clipped bird is also at more danger outside than a flighted bird, because they might not be able to get away from dange as easily as a flighted bird.... if clipped, later on they might be stuck to the ground, where-in there are dogs, cats, cars, and other predatory creatures. At least with flight, they might be able to be safer in a tree. They are still at risk from various environmental factors, but at least they'd have a better chance of keeping themselves safe.

If you want a better chance of keeping your bird safe, they need to be recall trained. Just like dogs. They need to be trained well enough that they'll fly back to you on command, no matter the situation. It takes a lot of work and dedication, a lot more than what you'd do with dogs, (dog's can't fly...) but it's possible.



Regardless of all that, I hope both of you are able to retrieve your Greys and bring them home safe!