My friend is devastated: her little canary flew away.

[no_hypocrisy]

The bird had been in a cage with a few moments of liberty on her shoulder for more than a decade. The wings were clipped so it wouldn't be able to fly away. (I know, I know. That's another sore subject.)

She had the little bird on her shoulder and opened the door to throw bread crumbs to assembled ducks on her doorstep and the bird suddenly took flight. High, high, high into the sky. It circled but didn't return or perch on a nearby tree branch or bush. It's gone since two days ago.

She called the police and the special animal rescue unit and the local animal hospital. All they could advise her was to continue to look around the property as the bird was incapable of long-distance flight theoretically and to keep her eyes on the ground where it could be just chilling. And to put out seed on a plate near their door.

What else can she do? She feels guilty and worried for the safety of the bird.

[redwitch]

1. No idea what advice to offer her.

She should do what others have already offered. I hope her canary is found safe and sound.

[cwydro]

2. Very sad.

I don't believe in keeping birds in cages, so really can't offer any advice.

[meti57b]

3. I would suggest that she get another canary......

If her canary returns, .... she will have two little loves. If her little canary finds a new home, ..... she will then have a new little canary to love.

[procon]

4. Maybe try setting the cage outside and add lots of food and treats inside and out.

That was an awful of temptation to put before a bird -- open door, food and other birds -- hope she gets him back.

[TuxedoKat]

6. Here's some advice

In the remarks section in one of the links below there was a comment that gave me an idea. First though, the cage outside or on a windowsill is a great idea. Also putting the canary's toys out where they are visible too. In the comments though of the third or fourth link, someone mentioned if you have another canary, the bird may hear it and be attracted back to the sound of the other bird singing. If she doesn't I just looked up and there is a Canary App in iTunes called "Canary Sounds"!!! She can play that in and around her area and hopefully if her canary is out and about, it will hear her and follow her home. Tell her to just NOT play the app if she sees a big bird of prey in the area. She wouldn't want to call her bird out in the open and cause it to be swooped down on by a predator. If it was my canary, I would make signs (white poster on florescent paper background - with large color photo, the word LOST! and phone number in big letters so people can see it while driving by) and print little postcards with a picture of a canary on it with her name and cell phone # and have a short paragraph on it explaining the situation. Then I would go around the neighborhood, door to door and give them to my neighbors. Don't leave them in the mailbox as that is against the law. If the person is not at home, just leave it between the door and the doorknob.

The verbiage on the card could read something like this:

"This is my canary, -------, who escaped (date), through an open door. If you see him/her, please call any time day or night as we are extremely worried about our canary. Please check inside garages, sheds, etc., in case he may have become trapped inside.
Thank you very much for your help."

Good luck to your friend. I know how distressing it is to have a pet missing. Personally, I think the Canary App is a good bet, as I've used other Bird Apps to call Bluebirds and other birds to my yard.

http://www.africangreys.com/articles/other/my_bird_flew_away.html

http://petfbi.org/i-lost-a-pet/lost-pet-advice/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiZ-MyP2p1QIVhkCGCh3xSQrUEAAYASAAEgK26vD_BwE

https://www.thespruce.com/what-to-do-if-your-bird-flies-away-390732

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-get-a-lost-bird-to-come-87826

[Fla Dem]

5. Happend to my Mom in the dead of winter.

Last edited Thu Jul 27, 2017, 04:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Parakeet had run of the house most of the day. My Mom put a on heavy jacket to go out and hang laundry. This was before washer and dryers were as prevalent as they are now. She never felt the bird land on her shoulder. As soon as she stepped outside he took off. We hung his cage outside, but he never came back. Of course in freezing weather he probably didn't last long. Was my pet. I was heartbroken, as was my Mom.

I hope, given this is summer, your friend will find her little buddy. Let us know if she does.

[TuxedoKat]

7. Posted

my reply in the wrong place above, so just kicking so you will see it.

[haele]

8. That happened to my first cockatiel. The kid left the back door open and Malachi followed.

He would have been about 12 at the time. I never clipped his wings, but he was easily handled, and had no problems just hanging out in his cage with the door open for hours on end until something interested him. He'd fly around the house after dinner, loved the spouse, the kid, the dog, and my old baby boy cats of happy memory - he'd fly over to their feeding area and nibble on kibble alongside them with no fear. He'd been outside a few times, but typically under a patio or in a protected from the elements area, and typically on a leash (yes, they make bird leashes).
Same thing, he got outside, went a bit further out than usual after the kid who was out with her friends in the backyard playing with a Frisbee or something, got caught by a wind gust, and ended up being tossed higher and higher, blown out over the canyon behind out house. We never saw him again; the kid was devastated.

Not to be a bummer, but birds can be very fragile, especially smaller birds who've lived indoors. High winds can buffet them around, and they might not be able to land properly and hurt themselves badly.

Hopefully, your friend's canary can make it back.

Haele

[blaze]

9. Does your neighborhood have the NextDoor website available?

Basically, it's a digital community bulletin board. I've seen many pets reunited via this site (including an iguana!).

Good luck to your friend!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. NextDoor is a great thing.

It's not only a way to track down lost pets and fine homes for found ones, it's an excellent way of keeping track of crime in the neighborhood, getting rid of stuff you don't want (got rid of an unused bookshelf, a curio cabinet and some raspberry plants the same day I posted), get free stuff you do want (I got a perfectly nice piano because a neighbor didn't want it), find out about local events, etc. I highly recommend it.

[blaze]

13. I have some friends in NJ, just outside of NYC who are just now being introduced to NextDoor.

We've had it in our metro area for quite a few years now. Our neighborhood is very active. But I know that some others are not. In addition to all the pluses you mentioned, the folks with Free Public Libraries meet up occasionally to swap books if borrowing has become stagnant.

Wish I could post the thread about the iguana. Someone posted a photo from his back yard, with an iguana "perched" on the side of a tree and asked, "Does anyone know who this belongs to?" Iguana and person were quickly reunited.

[Loryn]

10. I have a friend who lost his bird the same way.

He was so happy when he flew back home several days later. The chances may be slim, but it happened.

[In_The_Wind]

12. She should put on the canary's favorite shirt and sit outside where the canary can see her.

Do this as much as possible. She should continue to call out to her bird. After 10 years of bonding the bird will return to her voice (if it's still alive).

[LisaL]

14. I once found a parakeet outside (not mine). I brought the cage out and he jumped right in.

Have her put the cage out, maybe the bird will come back.