Start your search immediately. The first 24 hours are crucial. Tell your neighbors so they know to be on the lookout for your bird.
Children love to help, have agile legs and hands, and good eyesight.
Record a whistle your bird knows or other bird calls from your flock on a tape recorder or smart phone. Use your recorder as you walk your neighborhood. Your bird may hear the whistle or their flock and call back to you.
Make a flyer. Recruit friends or neighbors to help post them within a five mile radius of your home or where your bird flew off.
A tame bird will most likely fly to a person, especially if they are friendly or hungry.
Let others know about your bird. The more people know that your bird is lost, the better your chances are of them coming back to you. They may be trying to connect with you.
If you spot your bird, put out their favorite treat, sprinkle seed on the ground or put their cage out. They may fly down to it.
If you are able to get to your bird, try to talk calmly to it. Use a sheet, pillow case or even your shirt to gently wrap them to get them to a safer place.
Search for your bird during the daytime hours, but also before sunrise or at dusk. They are most likely to be active during these times and they tend to hunker down at night since their sight is more limited in the dark.
Do not spray the bird with a hose. This could injure or shock them causing them to fly further away. Remember, a wet bird can still fly.
If you find a lost bird
Place an ad that the bird has been found. Register the lost bird on the websites listed.
Try to put it in a cage if you have one. If you do not have a cage place them in a safe room away from dangerous objects, open toilets and toxic items such as, plants, make-up or cleaners.
Feed the bird fresh veggies and fruit. Many birds enjoy snacking on Cheerios.
Do not feed the bird chocolate, avocado, onion or alcohol since these are toxic to them.
