Clipping And Up-Drafts

[FairLight]

A few weeks ago a neighbor came by with his two birds on his shoulders. He did not have them on tethers or in flight suits. I mentioned that this didn't seem very safe for the birds, and could they get caught up in an up-draft
and carried away? The birds are a CAG and Goffens '2.
His reply was that the birds wings' were clipped, so they couldn't fly away if they wanted to, wind or no wind.
I would like to take my CAG out just on our own property. I have thought of either a flight suit or tether. (tho tether doesn't sound as good as a flight suit)
Can a "wide body" such as a Gray be carried away in an up-draft? I do know of a family that lost a young Amazon this way. I am not sure if it was clipped or not.
I just don't feel it is safe to take a bird out doors with out some type of restraint.
We are getting another large cage for Abbie so she can be outside when I am right beside her. I feel she would benefit from fresh air and sun shine. I think she would enjoy being outdoors when safe, also.
Of course she cannot be left alone-we are rural and predators pass through regularly.
My neighbor's bird also flew off a sailboat and almost drowned. Poor little baby was saved by jumping on an oar and being lifted aboard. Needless to say, Abbie isn't getting within a mile of her new friends.
I do not feel that I am over protective of my baby-just wondering about the extent of protection wing clipping provides.
Thanks for reading this far! :o)
I love this board, and appreciate all messages.
Linda In CA

[The Outlaw]

Well, a lot has to do with the lay of the land and how many trees you have in close proximity. If you are higher up, on the top of a hill and your bird decides to fly off your shoulder, it will get enough air time for an updraft to lift it up and extend its ride. That could put it in a tree. Birds instinctively climb to the highest branches and that usually means waiting for the NEXT wind. Before you know it, your clipped bird is miles away. They don't have to do much flapping to stay airborn if the air currents are right.

THE OUTLAW

[Barb E]

I was at a parrot workshop on the weekend and we were talking about the benefits of having parrots outside in an aviary/cage during the warm weather.... one of the hazards, that I must admit I had'nt considered, was the risk of West Nile.
The woman giving the workshop very wisely recommended: don't put the birds out first thing in the morning and bring them in before dusk to reduce the exposure to mosquitos.
She also suggested mosquito screen except most of our birds could easily reach through cage bars and chew the screen :eusa_wall

I would love to bring my bird out for walks with me but I know he'd be so frightened this would be a selfish act on my part.

How would a flight-suit help keep your bird safe?

Barb

[peeker]

Try reading the lost birds ads. At least half of those birds have been clipped. My neighbor almost lost her ringneck when it took off, right after getting clipped at the vets!! We were able to get it back and then she asked me to clip it some more!
My Ruby took off last summer--thank goodness I found her the same day!! She was clipped, but a couple of new feathers had come in. I was taking the birds out to the garage for their own safety while I burned off our new central heat unit. Well, I had all the birds but one already in cages or on stands in the garage and I stooped down in the doorway (small side door) and Ruby glided smoothly out right over my head! I was shocked!!!!! She never even had to flap! I had never realized the ground just falls gently away on one side of my home. She sailed sweetly right across my yard, the neighbors yard and out of my view. :( I secured the rest of the birds, grabbed my shoes, my keys and the cordless phone. As I drove down the hill looking for her I called my husband in tears. Suddenly the bird that bit me, gave me hateful looks, that I thought I could do without, became the dearest and sweetest bird and I was ready to bargain my soul to get her back! My hubby drove home immediately and we searched the neighborhood for her. I talked to everyone I could find, I hailed cars coming up the road to ask if the'd seen her. I checked high in the trees and power poles and she was nowhere to be found. Then I heard her call! It sounded like it came from only a few houses down. We went to their house and were scouring the skies to find her and she called again! She was very low in a bush. i reached out to her and she stepped right up! I hugged her to my chest and hurried home and I was shaking the whole way. I never take chances anymore! I have the feather-tether, the flight-suit, small cages for carrying, cat carriers, and even a Sherpa soft side animal carrier!! no one goes outside without proper protection and I still keep them all trimmed-but even more so now!!

[peeker]

Originally Posted by Barb E

How would a flight-suit help keep your bird safe?

Barb

A flight-suit can be attached to a leash to avoid fly-aways. :) I also avoid having my birds out at sunrise and dusk when mosquitoes are out. You can also get mosquito dunks to put anywhere you have standing water on your property to avoid breeding 'squitos. I find each bird to be different in my home. Ruby really loves to go bye-bye. She will wear a tether and enjoys being outdoors, she especially loves car rides. Mojo enjoys going anywhere i will take him in his Sherpa bag. He is a big mama's boy. Jax is more nervous outdoors, but also curious and excited-he tries to talk to the sparrows and jays saying "hi Jax!" and "peek-a-boo!"

[TooLover]

I told hubby the other night that I would like an outdoor aviary for the babies during the day for a few hours when we are home; our back yard is big enough for it. He refuses because of the threat of West Nile; he says it only takes a second for one of the babies to get bit!

[Franciscus]

The risk of a bird taking off, clipped or not, is too great.I would reccommend an aviary or outside cage. As far as West Nile virus is concerned, the best type of aviary would have three layers. One with appropriate wire to keep in the bird, some space, then mosquito mesh, more space, then another layer of wire to keep predators, such as raccoons, from harming the bird by grabbing at the bird through the wire. I have heard of parrots loosing legs by raccoons.

[Willow]

I am hoping to biuld an aviary for my birds this spring, and it will have wire on the inside and screen on the outside. But, I do worry about metal poisoning from the wire!

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Clipped or not, I'd never risk taking a bird outside without some kind of leash. The weatherman is never right, so a gust is highly possible. Birds are rather flighty (pun?), so all it could take is a dove to fly by, a car, or whatever, and they could decide to fly. And where there's a will, there's a way. For those who know NE Philly, I've heard of a clipped greenwing who flapped its way across Roosevelt Blvd. Plus you've got all those wild critters like squirrels, raccoons, hawks, etc. that would just love to spend some quality time with your pretty little birdie. And we have plenty of nice, old trees in our yard. So if I had a parrot that got away, it wouldn't be coming down for quite some time.

And as for the whole West Nile thing, that's the reason I'll never build an aviary or a mew while I'm living where I do. The neighbors have a pool that the mosquitos frequent. When it rains our yard grows a nice puddle. There's that open sewer behind the neighbors' yard that I'm sure helps the mosquitos around here. And we have the 'wildest' yard for several properties, so after breeding, the mosquitos hang out in our bushes. Heck, just talking about the little buggers is making me itchy.

Sure, I could take all sorts of precautions, but with my luck (and one little bite) all the time, money, and emotion I invest would end up dead.

And the thought of those mosquitos is still making me itch!

[Franciscus]

Originally Posted by Willow

I am hoping to biuld an aviary for my birds this spring, and it will have wire on the inside and screen on the outside. But, I do worry about metal poisoning from the wire!

I heard that if you wash the wire with vinegar once in a while it takes off most of the zinc. Apparently there is also stainless steel mesh available somewhere. It's best to also have wire on the outsied so wild animals, or a neighbourhood cat, can't rip the mosquito screen and get to the bird between the wire.