Legal Identification of your Parrot:

Should a pet bird get lost and matches the description of one that has been found, it will be up to the owner to prove legal ownership.

To legally identify your bird, you need the following:

  • ID Band: The number on the ID band on your pet’s leg
  • Microchip: You can have an AVID chip inserted in the chest of your bird, then register the bird with AVID.

    When deciding on potentially microchipping your pet, you should be aware that there may be an increased risk of cancer. Please refer to http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/a/Do-Microchips-Cause-Canc…

 

Found a Bird?

  • The Worldwide Lost and Found Bird Hotline

 

Lost your bird? These steps will help get him or her back:

  • Search for your bird in your neighborhood. Spread the word to neighbors and neighborhood children that your bird has escaped and let them know what your bird looks like. While searching, bring along a favorite toy or treat and water. Make familiar sounds.

  • Report the loss of your bird on the following websites / and review the listed “found birds”:

     

  • Report the bird to the police as “lost property.” The police will ask you to provide proof of ownership, including recorded band number, micro-chip information and physical description. Reporting your bird will be important if your parrot is found by someone who is reluctant to return the bird to you – be it because they want to keep him or her, or they are trying to get money from you.

  • Call / visit the local pet stores, newspapers, the humane society / animal control, breeders, bird dealers, and veterinarians. The local pet stores are a really important resource for you. When someone finds a bird, they will oftentimes go to the store to buy a cage or food. When my parrot flew away, I dropped off flyers at the local pet store, and indeed I got a phone call from them within a few hours. One of the customers told them they had found a parrot and asked how much it was worth. The customer was given one of my flyers, but tossed it outside the pet store, the sales person told me. Once I knew that the person who found him was primarily interested in “money” — I placed an ad in the local newspaper and offered an award in the amount of my parrot’s “market value” and indeed got my parrot back within a couple of days.
     
  • Place ads in the local newspaper(s). Not everybody goes online – so it’s important to place print ads as well …

  • Check the “Found ads” daily.

  • Create a flyer with a photo and description of your bird. (DO NOT provide too much information about your pet — you want to make sure that you leave some distinguishing feature(s) out of the description to help you identify whether a caller actually has your pet – to avoid becoming a fraud victim!)
    • Produce an original on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, and reproduce on brightly colored paper (yellow, orange, etc.).
    • The flyer needs to have your contact information – telephone number is best.
    • For your own safety, do not provide your street address.
    • Offering a reward will increase your chances of getting your bird back (but will also increase you chances of being targeted by con artists – please refer to below).

  • Distribute / Place Flyer at:
    • Police Departments
    • Local Humane Society/Shelters/SPCA
    • Local Bird Clubs
    • Local Vets
    • Bird shops and Pet shops (especially those that sell bird supplies)
    • Laundrymats
    • Grocery stores, 7-11’s, – AM/PM, drug stores
    • Banks
    • Schools, colleges and libraries
    • Apartment bulletin boards
    • Inform local television stations and/or radio stations

  • VERY IMPORTANT! Con artists are targeting devastated pet owners looking for their losts pets! Find out how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.

 

If you still see your bird or parrot outside, however, you may want to follow Jean’s directions (listed below). She offers some excellent ideas. I once retrieved another pet bird following her instructions. They work.

How to Recapture your Bird by Jean “The African Queen” Pattison (FL):

Do everything as high up as possible. And don’t chase him all over and miss. You will only make him more wary.

1. They usually come in at dawn and dusk. If possible put the mate outside in a small cage inside the larger one.

2. Get the mate in a smaller cage up against the house with the bigger cage in front of it with trap door open. If possible.

Throw some food on top of the house, and perhaps water in his dish on top also. Not too much, you want him hungry. That will keep him close. If his food is in a crock put the crock up there. The more weight he loses the better he can fly, so the quicker you want to catch him. Get a few garden hoses ready, that will reach everywhere. If he avoids all cages but comes in low, wait till he perches someplace and hit him with all you got from the water hose. Get him as wet as you can as fast as you can. He will be surprised and too heavy to fly immediately. Throw a towel over him then. If he still isn’t trapped by night watch where he roosts, it may be low enough to sneak up at night and catch him, but you only usually get one shot at night. About the third day is when they get careless because they are hungry. Usually your best shot then. Above all don’t give up. They show up 3 weeks later sometimes. You need to be up at daybreak. It is amazing how they try to stay close. Good luck Jean

 

For those grieving over the loss of a beloved pet, please visit the following website: petloss.com – Pet Loss Grief Support Website and Candle Ceremony … angelbluemist.com – Portrait of An Angel – This website allows those who have lost a loved one to give and find support and understanding.

 

Species Research by Sibylle Johnson

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