Hello. I'm so sorry you have lost your bird. Unfortunately, there is little, if anything, in their instincts that will help you to look in a certain place as opposed to any other place. What will help is the "one mile rule". It sounds like you have covered most of the bases in your search but there are some additional things you can do. Offering a reward is one, telling a little white lie that he needs medication is another. Enlisting the help of all neighborhood children, (who can be more observant than adults) with the promise of a few dollars for spotting or returning him. What is so bad for the birds is that when a person finds a dog or cat, their first reaction is usually to find the owner. When they find a bird, their first reaction is to go buy a cage. Non bird people don't grasp the difference of the bond our birds build with us compared to that of other pets. I'm going to paste some information here for you that I keep on my own website. It should give you some more ideas and additional things you can do to try to get him back. The most important thing is to not give up. I know of instances where birds have been returned, long after the owner thinks there is no hope. I wish you the very best of luck in getting him back and hope this will help. If you have any more questions, just let me know. Patricia
Tips for Finding a Lost Parrot
Losing your parrot can be a devastating experience. Unlike a dog or cat who may roam the (usually familiar) streets wearing a collar with a tag, parrots often fly up and away to hide in the safety of a tree's high branches. Often, they are so scared and confused by their surroundings that they are unable to find their way home, even if they wanted to. Here is a few tips for getting your bird back.
- 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.
- Familiar Surroundings: Even if you cannot see your bird, he may be watching you. Your bird may be too scared to come down and see you, so entice him. Put his cage outside, full of his favorite junk-food, and leave the door open. If your bird has a feathered pal, put him outside, too (in a locked cage). Only attempt this if you are home and watching the cage(s) carefully. This may entice him to come down. If you have a dog/cat that your bird doesn't like, be sure to keep them far away from the cage.
- Make Some Noise: If there are noises or words that your bird likes, walk the neighborhood making those sounds. Listen carefully, your bird might talk back!
- Let People Know: When your bird becomes hungry or lonely, she may make contact with a stranger in desperation. This person may well go looking for the bird's owner. Make posters advertising your lost bird with a description and contact information. Give these posters to neighbors, veterinarians and pet stores as soon as possible. If there are bird breeders in your area, let them know you lost your bird, too. Also, place an advertisement in the Lost & Found section of any newspapers in your area. Finally, stick posters up on phone poles and in community centers. You may even go door-to-door asking neighbors to keep an eye out for your bird. This way, if someone has seen/found your bird, they can easily find you, too.
- Remember Your Animal Welfare Groups: Be sure to contact your local animal control, Humane Society and any parrot rescue groups in your area. Let them know you have lost your parrot and give them a contact number where they can get a hold of you if someone reports a found bird.
- And Most Importantly: Be stubborn about finding your bird. Parrots are very adaptable and can live feral in many parts of the United States. Your best chance for getting your bird back is if you are proactive!
More Links:
http://www.parrottalk.com/missing.html
http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/blost.htm
http://www.birdhotline.com/
http://www.birdmart.com/classifieds/lost/
http://members.aol.com/thepetpage/
http://www.birdmart.com/classifieds/found/
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/peepuff/lostfound.html
http://bellaonline.com/articles/art3239.asp
http://www.petfinder.com/post/classifiedhop.html
http://www.avianrescue.org/resources.html#lost
To Report a Found Bird: Bird911-request@ParrotTalk.com
To Report a Lost/Stolen Bird: Bird911@ParrotTalk.com
http://www.petfinder.com/post/classifiedhop.html
Bird HotLine — World Wide Bird Lost and Found
Birdhobbyist's Forums - Lost & Found Birds
The Pet Page - LOST, FOUND, STOLEN, RESCUE and WANTED ANIMALS
PETSEARCH(UK) - Register of lost and found
Yahoo! Directory Animals Classifieds > Lost and Found
PARROT CONSERVATION GROUP LOST AND FOUND: Lost, Stolen and Found ...
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