Sad day - friend's bird escaped

[smallonion]

Hi everyone,
I'm very sad today. Tim, my friend's lovable and beloved cockatiel is missing. She lives with her father and when she was at work, Tim was out of his cage, and her father opened the windows because it was hot. He didn't bother to put Tim back in his cage, and Tim got out. I just mentioned Tim in another post. My friend is devastated - she loved Tim dearly, and so did I. Tim spent a few weeks at my house a few times when she had some trouble or was on vacation. He was super tame, loved to throw his head down for the back of his neck to be rubbed. I spend ages rubbing his neck and cheeks and beak.

I spent the day helping her make posters to hang around the neighborhood.

I am devastated. At least it's so warm out so he didn't freeze to death. I just imagine him hungry, lonely and scared. Everyone keep your fingers crossed please.

Michele and Humph ;-(

[SavvyMoon]

Did she do all the typical "Find your birdie" stuff??

1) put his cage outside in a clearing in the back yard with the doors open and a nice bowl of his favorite food next to it? (not on the ground...up on a table or chair)

2) call and whistle for him repeatedly, while walking slowly around the block, then around two blocks and so on, expanding the search area.

3) if they have a dog, putting the dog on a short leash and walking around with the dog, calling and whistling for the bird. (dogs can hear better than we do, and might get excited or look up into a tree if they hear the bird)

4) knock on neighbor's doors and ask them to be on the lookout at their bird feeders and around their yards... give them a computer picture with phone number on it.

and I'm sure there's more.....

[The Outlaw]

And, the best tip of all: Give the local children handouts. Kids always know where EVERYTHING is.

THE OUTLAW

[Chariclo]

So sorry to hear of Tim being lost! I think Savvy and Outlaw gave you some great advice. I'll be sending you and your friend good thoughts to bring him home safely.

[LMPego]

Hi, Michele.
Do you have any bird clubs over there? They can be a great resource as the more people with their "ear to the ground" the better.
Someone on another board lost her bird and I think it was through bird club members that they were reunited!
Good luck - I'm so sorry to hear of Tim's disappearance.

[BirdzRmylife]

Tim's in our prayers Michelle,....goodluck!
Steven

[Tiki]

Praying for little Tim, Michelle

In addition to what Savvy and Outlaw said-try putting an ad in the little weekly community newspapers (if you have them) offer a reward-that motivates kids to look extra hard.

It is always best if you have pet birds that are allowed free flight in house to have screens on the windows-cockatiels seem able to fly even when clipped so you have to be extra vigilant with them.

I hope you get him back!

[smallonion]

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions - I will forward them to my friend.

About window screens - you won't believe this but here in England they simply do not exist. Go to the hardware store to buy them, as I did when I first arrived? No luck. As my dad asked, "so what do you do, just let the bugs come in?" Yes, that's exactly what British people do! Also, a lot of windows here 'swing out' rather than lift up. That's what my bedroom windows are like.

My grandmother in America gave me one adjustable screen for my window. I had to
schlep it all the way over here. It's in the living room, where Humphrey mainly lives. Our living room door remains closed. When we get up in the morning, we have to shut our bedroom windows BEFORE waking Humphrey. God forbid I leave the living room door open and he flies into the bedroom and out the window. Many of you will remember the troubles I had when I took Humph to get his wings trimmed. So that's not an option.

Humph is flighted but we are OBSESSIVE about safety. My friend's dad had the tiel out and just opened all the windows! I could kill him. My friend got home and..no Tim. He's such a dear sweet bird. Hopefully a neighbor has him and will see the posters. I will pass your suggestions on to her.
Thanks again.
Michele and humph (who is being loved exra hard this week)