Tip for getting your lost bird to return to you

[omgitsaliv55]

I am new to this forum but wanted to share something that I did that may help other bird owners recover their feathered friend(s) in the event of a fly-away. The last 9 hours of my life have been some of the most worrysome and stressful hours I've had in a long time, but I'm happy to say that just an hour ago my beloved Stewie returned to me safe and sound.

Last night around 9:00 pm Stewie was acting very bored. As stupid as it was in hindsight, I decided to take him outside for a little bit before the summer sun finished setting. His wings were not clipped for various reasons, but I had taken him outside many times before while fully flighted and he never flew away. I naively assumed that he just wasn't interested in leaving me -- I definitely learned that I was wrong the hard way! Sure enough, after 10 minutes passed he flew high up into a tree branch near my house. I went inside to get a ladder, and when I came back he was no longer there. At this point, the sun had almost finished setting and you could hear the calls of all of the other birds in the forest fading as they fell asleep. I worried that the sun had set on my days with Stewie, too.

Then I had an idea. I pulled out my laptop and recorded a 15 second audio clip on Audacity (free recording program) of me making all the various sounds that I used to call Stewie. I left my laptop outside playing it on a loop all night long at full volume hoping that he'd hear it when he woke up the next morning and would come back. Sure enough, at 5:45 am I could hear his screech outside my front door calling back to the computer. Now he's sitting next to me safe and sound inside my house.

If you find yourself in a similar unfortunate situation, don't panic just yet. Consider trying what I did before you give up and start printing out fliers. Birds are, and always will be wild animals no matter how tame they seem. They are curious animals and want to experience for themselves what they can only see through a window. Yet birds also want our companionship, and when you remind them of where they can find it they will likely return. Hope that this helps someone!

[Michael]

Thanks, good post. Glad it all worked out. I would also recommend a highly recognizable stand or object to place outside for the bird to land on.

[pennyandrocky]

so glad stewie came home.the first time my flew off for a night i was up crying the whole time we had got a new puppy and he decided to fly off for a pout. the next morning i let my dogs out and was calling them back in when i heard my call back to me he spent the night in a neighbor's tree and flew back when i called to him.

[DustyTheGrey]

What a good post!!!