Trying to help an escapee budgie!

[birdgirl276]

Hi,

About 6-8 weeks ago, a female blue budgie appeared in my backyard. She's been feeding daily, but I don't know if she has shelter, and if so what/where it is. I have a birdhouse hanging in the yard that she has been showing interest in for the last few days, but I don't know if she's been inside, or even if it's appropriate.
I want to help ensure that she can survive the winter (I'm in Niagara Canada), and am trying to find out the best way to make the house more attractive to her. Or, is there some way to catch her and bring her inside to help her survive?

Any help is appreciated!

[Monica]

Lets see... you've seen her for 6-8 weeks... she's apparently been eating and surviving thus far on her own. The birdhouse she is probably viewing as a place to nest, not a place to keep warm.

It would probably be best to get a cage set up, with a budgie inside, and set this outside on a good day, to hopefully attrack her to the cage. Maybe even have another cage set up to the first with food inside. Rigger the cage door, so that you can easily close it if she goes inside (having either a large door that swings open, or a large door that closes down might be a good idea?)


Do you know of anyone around you willing to donate a budgie for a while until you can get this blue budgie caught??? Or would you be interested in buying another to catch this budgie?

[GracienGeorge]

Ohhh how exciting!!!!!! OKay., Yes by all means first get a small cage from wherever-- with the door opened. Put Millet and Budgie seed inside, also a small dish of water... assuming it wont freeze ofcourse. The whole idea here is to rescue the poor little starving sweet budgie :)
When, and if you do see her go inside, then ofcourse run up to the house and close the door quick, or thether a string to the doorto pull it down shut or closed.
There are too many dangers for a budgie to be in the wild! Big ugly black cowbirds, cats, predatory birds, and of course the uneccesary need for a young boy with his BB GUN!
Not to speak of the elements themselves!
I know you are thinking the right things for wanting to help the poor little baby. And for that, THANK YOU!
Please keep us posted :)

[Monica]

The bird has been surviving for 6+ weeks on it's own.... outside... in the wild... that's no indication of starvation.

[RXK]

i would definitely catch him and bring him indoors. even though he's survived the last couple of weeks, i don't think he would be able to continue to do so in the winter months. although, there are some instances where parrots have acclimated well to cold temperatures and are now wild in these locations: the Quakers of New York, and i think i've even heard of Macaws in New Zealand (but, i don't know how true this is). however, it's unlikely that this little budgie will be able to survive, in my opinion. so, please catch him. once you do, you should try to locate the owner if you can (i can give you suggestions on how to do this, if you need them). or, you can just give him to a nearby animal shelter, the OSPCA, or vet so that they can try to locate the owner.

Good Luck :)

[birdgirl276]

Thank you for your responses. I have managed to line up a cage that I can borrow, and while I don't have another budgie, I was told to rig it up with lots of mirrors and perches, and that would probably attract it.
And no, she is not starving, as I have two feeders out that she has been frequenting!
Every time I see her, I'm happy that she's still alive, but overwhelmed with sadness, as I don't see how she could possibly survive a winter outside here. I'm amazed that she's been in the wild for two months and survived that long. She's flying around and hanging out with all the other blue jays and birds that use the feeders...it's very cute!
Thanks again. I'll let you know how I make out! By the way, here she is...

[prettypenguin]

What a cutie- I hope you can catch her!

[hollyhawkz]

Ahh what a cutie, maybe you could put that feeder in the bottom of the cage??

[RXK]

Originally Posted by hollyhawkz

maybe you could put that feeder in the bottom of the cage??

good idea.


also, if all else fails, what does everyone think about using a net to catch her?

[birdgirl276]

Putting the feeder in the cage seems like a good idea, but what about all the other birds that feed from it? Do you think they'll come in, too? Or will the cage scare them off?