How to capture a parrot?

[JaydeParrot]

Someone I know told me today about her friend who'd lost (what she described as a) large green parrot, the person I was talking to reckoned it is currently living in an old burnt building near where she lives. She said that she'd seen the parrot flying around with pigeons and reckoned that the parrot was living in the burnt building with the pigeons. Apparently her friend's been there most mornings, having her breakfast outside the building, calling to it and trying to get the parrot to come back- It won't.

I've offered to go there tomorrow, meet up with the person missing her parrot and bring my bird along in order to tempt the bird into coming down. Personally, if it was my bird, I'd attempt to get into the house, sneak around and figure if my bird is there, then attempt to either call to it, corner it, put covers over the holes in the house (the windows and some of the roof is gone) and walk arfter the bird untill it got tired. However, it's not my bird and I don't want to be responsible for failing and potentially scaring the parrot away from coming back. Also, the floors may be burnt to the point of not being able to support my weight/ legally I'm not allowed to go in but I really don't think anything would happen if I did/if it was my bird I wouldn't care! .

Does anyone have any ideas for getting a bird to come down, it's believed it's bonded to a pigeon, I almost want to say leave it there for that reason, but Winter's coming and the weather can be very unpredictable from Snow and Ice to Sunny and Warm, plus there are alot of magpies and crows about who happily attack anything alone or weak.

[Pajarita]

First I would call local bird rescues and see if they would come and get it but, if they don't, put seeds and peanuts and water (don't forget the water, birds can find food but water is hard) inside a large cage with a large door (leave door open but rig it so a person can close it quick) where the bird usually goes in the am and, when the bird goes in to eat the seeds, close the door (sounds like an amazon).

[JaydeParrot]

Good idea, trouble is the bird's probably on the first floor, upstairs, considering it has fire damage, I'm not sure rigging up a human springing bait trap will be too easy. There aren't any bird rescues around, closet it probably two to three hours away, I can't see them coming for the bird. I figure an RSPCA (animal protection society) might lend us a self springing bait trap if I explain the situation (will have to talk it over with the parrot's owner first though).

I have recorded some loud wild parrot sounds on my dictaphone, I figure if I play them, the parrot might respond, so I'll know whether it's still there or not. My birds come out of their cage and shout, looking for invisible parrots when I play the solundtrack so I figure it might work with the lost bird. Does that sound like a good idea or is there a high risk of me scaring it away by playing the soundtrack?

[Wolf]

I don't think that playing the soundtrack would scare the bird off, especially since you will probably have to play a few seconds at a time to be able to listen for replies. I know that if it was my bird that I would be in the building looking for my bird or at least I would be there before dawn watching to see if it came out with the pigeons as well as where it came out at.
One could use a six or eight foot ladder, like one section from an extension ladder to place on the floor to distribute ones weight over a larger area or even several boards and go in during the day and set up a place under where the birds roost and take a long butterfly net and net the bird when it returns to roost.

[JaydeParrot]

You were correct Pajarita, it is an amazon, looks like a blue fronted one. I sat near the burn house and played the parrot noises on my dictaphone, ten minutes later the amazon appeared, it seems quite happy where it is (probably about 40 to 50 foot up).

I'd like to meet the owner before either phoning animal services or venturing, inside as it's the owner's bird and so it's not entirely my right to get involved. I can't see it coming down but would like to try something, any idea of how to grab a parrot which refuses to come down.

The burned house is blocked up so I won't even bother to try and trespass until I've talked with the owner.

[Pajarita]

In my personal and very limited experience with birds that have gotten out, they don't come down, you have to go up and woo them into perching on your hand by calling them and offering them something they love (like a peanut or whatever) and then quickly hold them by putting your hand/arm against your chest and your other hand on their body (so they can't open their wings and fly away).

But don't eliminate the rescues from the picture before you ask them, you would be surprised at all the crazy things rescuers do in order to help an animal in need.

[JaydeParrot]

Thanks for your ideas, I'm going to meet with the owner of the missing Amazon tomorrow to discuss ideas of getting it down.

My ideas are:

Play recorded amazon sounds on dictaphone to attract the bird.

Bring a very long stick in hope of getting it to step up and bring it down.

Bring my bird along wearing an aviator harness and get her to do return flights infront of the bird to try and entice it to come closer.

Talk softly to it and try to offer it birdie junk food- peanuts, sunflower seeds.

Anyone have any more ideas? Anything not mentioned above will be considered, thanks! .