Key takeaways
Watching your bird fly away is a heartbreaking feeling. It can feel like a hopeless situation, but it's essential you're proactive in finding them again.
In this guide, we'll outline the three most important steps to take to increase your chances of finding your feathery friend.
These include reporting them missing, spreading the message, and physically searching for them.
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1. Report them missing
Local animal shelters
A physical description: Providing detailed descriptions of memorable physical traits will help shelters identify your bird accurately.
Photos: If possible, emailing or handing in photos of your bird can make the process even more effective and efficient.
Contact details: Ensure the shelters have all of your details so they can contact you as soon as there are any updates. Provide them with phone numbers, email addresses, and postal addresses.
Veterinarians
Animal control
Offer expert advice: These organizations have years and years of experience with animals and lost pets. They'll be able to give you the best tips and advice to help you get your bird back as soon as possible.
Help the search effort: Often, animal control agencies will have specific people ready to help owners in the search for their pets. The more people, the better!
Offer resources: These agencies will have humane traps and other resources that can make capturing your bird easier.
2. Spread the message
Distribute flyers
Use bright, primary colors: Using yellows, reds, and oranges can help catch people's attention because they imply urgency and importance. Keeping the color scheme simple will also help the poster and the information on it clear.
Keep text limited: To make your flyer readable and scannable, keep the information short and succinct. Break down big chunks of text into bullet points so passers-by can read about your bird quickly.
Include high-quality photos: Including multiple color photos that show your bird's memorable physical features will make your poster more interesting and help passers-by identify your feathery friend.
Start a PetRadar search
Send you a free, printable lost pet poster: Our missing pet poster is expertly designed and includes a QR code that passers-by can scan to report a sighting. This means you don't need to publish any private contact details.
Offer constant support and guidance: Our team of animal lovers will be with you every step of the way, offering advice, support, and guidance.
List your lost bird on our website: We'll list your feathery friend on our website so if anyone finds them and searches the internet for a missing bird, your pet will pop up, and they can report a sighting.
3. Physically search
Look up and listen
House roofs
Tall buildings
Tall trees
Fences
Satellite poles
Lure them home
Leaving their cage open outside: Your bird's familiar territory will be very appealing to them, especially if they've been away from home for a while. Keep an eye on the cage, and if you see your bird fly into it, act quickly by closing the door and bringing them inside.
Leave fresh water outside: Your pet is likely to be pretty thirsty from their adventures, and they may not have been able to find a water source. Their survival instincts will kick in, making your feathery friend focus on finding water, so leaving some outside your home can be very effective.
Leave food and treats outside: Choosing their favorite treat, some food, and even some toys to leave outside will help your bird identify their home.
FAQs
How do you deal with a lost bird?
If you have lost your bird, you should report them missing straight away. This can include posting on social media, calling local shelters and pet stores, and reporting them missing with your vet.
How do I find my lost bird?
To find your lost bird, you should report them missing immediately, physically search for them, and take steps to lure them back home.
What to do if you find a lost bird?
If you find a lost bird, you should report it to local animal shelters and animal control as soon as possible. They will be able to check whether they match the description of any current missing birds and contact the owner.
Will my bird fly away if I take it outside?
If you haven't trained your bird to come back to you or they aren't used to the outdoors, it's likely they will fly away if you take them outside.
Do birds that fly away come back?
Often, birds that fly away will eventually come back. If they have lived at your home for a while, they will recognize that as their home and be able to find their way back.
How do I find the owner of a lost bird?
To find the owner of a lost bird, call around local shelters, veterinarians, pet stores, and animal control. They'll be able to tell you whether they match the description of a current missing pet and contact the owner.
How do you catch a bird?
To catch a bird, you need to be patient. Lure them home with treats, water, and toys, and leave their cage open outside. Watch carefully, and when they fly in, close the door quickly and bring them inside.
Final thoughts
Written by
In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.
