How to avoid losing your bird
Legal identification such as leg bands (not recommended to be put on older birds) and microchips.
Desensitization to the outdoors will make them less flighty.
Is your bird fully flighted? (Clipped birds can still fly but have less control).
Is your bird recall trained? (Do they fly back to you on command?)
Is your household careful about opening doors and windows to prevent escapes?
Tips to remember if your bird goes missing
Have someone stay at the location where you last saw your bird. Birds will often find their way back to this location.
Try to remain in vocal contact with your bird. It’s easier for you and your bird to know where the other is this way.
If you cannot hear your bird bring another flock member outside to encourage flock calling.
Try to keep a line of sight to your bird at all times so you know where to look if they land.
Most pet birds are not the best flyers and therefore don’t get very far. They are usually found in neighboring gardens.
Steps to take when your bird goes missing
Report your bird as missing on www.parrotalert.com.
Look in your neighbours gardens (more often than not pet birds do not go very far.
Put their cage outside with their favorite food in it (if they are the only bird in that cage).
Post the ParrotAlert poster online and locally (social media, vet practices, grocery stores, and pet shops).
Approach the media to print your poster in their papers.
Tips for creating your poster
Use www.parrotalert.com. They do a lot of sharing on the owner’s behalf and it’s a recognizable format.
Offer a reward. This usually gets people involved who would ordinarily not get involved.
Make your phone number prominent but easy to remove once your bird is found.
Ask for ANY sighting to be reported. It will allow you to track your parrot’s path.
When asked for a location give a general location and not your home address.
Use photos of YOUR bird and not one from Google.
Don’t include identification information such as ring number or things your bird says. This will allow you to prove ownership and will prevent scammers from telling you they have your bird.
Adapted from BirdTricks.com
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