Tips to help you find a lost parrot

[Lisa B]

I wrote this some time ago to help owners reunite with their lost birds. Please do not repost without permission.

Having your parrot fly off can be a devastating experience. Unlike other domesticated pets who may roam the streets wearing a collar with a tag, parrots often fly up and away to hide in the safety of a tree and remain quiet as not to be seen. Many do not have the flying skills to fly down to their owners even if they are spotted. Often, they are so scared and confused by their surroundings that they are unable to find their way home, even if they wanted to.

Remember the "One Mile/One Month Rule": When looking for a lost bird, remember that and during the first month following "escape," a lost parrot usually stays within a one-mile radius of where it was lost.


When searching for your bird, look HIGH and LOW. Often birds will hide under things or behind things. Search bushes and all low lying areas.

Put his cage outside, full of his favorite junk-food, and leave the door open.

Canvas the neighborhood. Take a recording of your bird and walk around playing it. Walk with a friend. Have them walk behind you, listening to a response from your bird.Call your bird by name. Don't be shy about calling attention to yourself. The more attention you receive, the more people know about your missing bird.
Your bird will tend to be more vocal at dawn and dusk.

Talk to kids...they often speak the truth and will confess to a found bird or will know who to come to if one is found.


Make posters advertising your lost bird with a description, picture and contact information. Offer a REWARD. You do not need to advertise reward amounts, but keep in BOLD LARGE letters. Supply the posters to neighbors, pet stores, veterinarians, and shelters as soon as possible. Hang them on telephone poles at stop lights. Place them in your area supermarket. Place an ad in the Lost & Found section of any newspapers in your area. Many local papers will run this ad for free. Contact Bird clubs in your area. They often have newsletters that are published monthly and will gladly run your lost ad. Many local TV stations also run free ads on the community channel. Sometimes radio stations also run a similar service.


Most Importantly: Be stubborn and dedicated about finding your bird. Parrots are very adaptable and can live successfully in the wild in many parts of the United States. Your best chance for getting your bird back is if you are proactive!
Don’t give up and don’t just do what I have mentioned once. Several rounds of fliers, ads and calls might be in order to get your baby home.

More Links:
911 Parrot Alert- Lost & Found Parrot & Bird database, Report a Lost Bird or Found Bird
BirdsnWays - Pet Birds Classified Ads - Lost and Found
Bird HotLine — World Wide Bird Lost and Found
Birdmart.com - LOST PARROTS LOST BIRDS - Visit the Parrot Classified Ads for lost parrot listings of all varieties, from lost amazon parrots to lost macaws to lost cockatoos and lost african grey and lost cockateils, in fact, every kind of lost bird
Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten.
your local craigslist
If anyone has anymore advice to add, please pm them to me so I can add them to this list.