Lost and Found

Article by Mickaboo companion bird rescue, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area

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Free PDF digital download by BirdTricks

Companion birds will fly extremely long distances in short amounts of time. Even birds with clipped wings can fly much better outside with the help of wind gusts. Start your efforts local, and spread out - advertising within a 30 to 50 mile radius. Be sure to make posts on NextDoor, Facebook, and Parrot 911 as soon as possible in both your's and surrounding communities. Hang up posters with your bird's picture (in color) around schools, parks, pet stores, bus stops, vets, rescues, shelters, animal control, shopping centers, community centers, and community boards again within a 30-50 mile radius. Offer a reward of at least $100 as an incentive and to avoid theft. Notify your local animal shelters, vets, and bird hotels in case someone brings in a lost bird, and let them know of any special needs (medications, etc) your bird would need upon arrival.

Try to coerce it inside your house using nuts, seeds, fruit, and water. Leave out a cage or trap with these things as well if you have one. If you do not have a cage, or do not have the ability to care for a bird in your home, call someone who does, or put them in a box with air holes, food, and water before surrendering them to a local vet or rescue. Never leave an animal unattended on a doorstep. Make posts on NextDoor, Facebook, and Parrot911 with no pictures to avoid theft. Use google to identify the bird to the best of your abilities and include the species name as well as any variations/colloquial terms of the species name in your post. When you get an inquiry, do not provide any information, instead, ask for any unique, identifying indicators such as a leg band, missing tail feathers, scars, vocalizations, and tricks. "He has green feathers" may apply to any bird, so be vigilant.