The parrot is a prey animal. Captivity in a cage does not change this behavior in any way. In case of discomfort or fear, your parrot’s escape is inevitable. For the parrot, this is a survival solution. Before this escape, signs or behaviors from your parrot may appear.
The animal may emit cries, peck, and more. If, despite these various signs that indicate your parrot’s discomfort, it still escapes, you can use several methods to find your parrot.
Where and how to search for your parrot?
The search for your parrot will depend on the circumstances of its escape. If it happened in your presence, you can try to follow it as much as possible with your eyes. This way, you will know if it is flying low, perching, or gaining altitude, allowing you to better locate the area it might head towards. If this is not the case and it escaped in your absence, simply stay calm.
Your search strategy will depend on the information you have.
You know exactly where to find your parrot
Knowing the exact location of your parrot is the best-case scenario for its retrieval. If this is the case, you should keep it under observation, regardless of the distance between you. Once you are close to it, you have two options:
- Encourage it to come down from where it is.
- Climb the tree to retrieve it.
For safety reasons, the first option is preferable. It is the most educational and also the safest. How can you get your parrot to come down from its perch? You can use two techniques.
The recall technique
This involves getting your parrot to return to you. It is also known as “command recall.” With a signal, a gesture, a sound, etc., you invite the bird to come to you. This is an exercise that should be practiced at home by training the bird to return to your arm or a specific perch. You can also call your parrot by its name.
The step-down technique
With this technique, the parrot moves down branch by branch. Descending step by step is very reassuring for the animal because it uses its feet for support on the tree branches. You should stand at the base of the tree and encourage it to come down gradually.
Note: During both techniques, you can attract your parrot with food. Don’t forget to bring a cage. You can also use it to catch your parrot.
You have no idea where it went
Not knowing where your parrot is can be the most difficult situation. This search requires a lot of effort and investment on your part. Sometimes, inexperienced birds remain within a 500-meter radius of their takeoff point.
You can use the direction of the wind. Birds often move following the wind’s direction. However, this is not always the case for all birds. Therefore, you have two possible search directions: with or against the wind.
You can:
- Use a pair of binoculars
- Search in bird gathering areas, if any exist
- Put up missing posters in local businesses. These should include a photo, species, name, and any other relevant information to help locate your parrot.
- Report your parrot’s disappearance to your neighbors, the town hall, the police, the local newspaper, etc.
