Key takeaways
It's everyone's worst nightmare when their precious pet escapes their home, but it's important to remember it's possible for them to come home.
Most birds will return home safely after exploring the great outdoors.
However, to increase the chances of this happening, we're offering our top tips for pet owners to find their feathery friends.
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Why do pet birds fly away?
They get spooked
They are experiencing ongoing stress
Loud environment: Like every pet, their home and territory is incredibly important to them. It's where they feel safe and secure. If this is a loud and busy environment, they will struggle to feel comfortable.
Loneliness: Birds need company. They need to be interacted with frequently and no left alone in a cage for hours. This can cause anxiety, depression, and can eventually lead to your bird escaping and flying away.
Lack of stimulation: Pet birds, like parrots, are incredibly intelligent. Without enough stimulation through interactive play, toys, and training sessions, they can become bored and stressed. They'll then seek entertainment elsewhere and be more likely to fly away.
Neglect: Neglect can come in many forms. Whether it's withholding food, company, care, or even love. If your bird isn't getting their needs met, they will seek a new environment and a new owner.
If your feathery friend is experiencing ongoing stress and anxiety, they will instinctually fly away to find somewhere safer.
Instincts
Do birds come back?
How to lure a pet bird home
Leaving food and water outside: If your pet has been gone for a good few hours, it's likely they're getting a little hungry. Instinctually, they'll be on the lookout for water and food supplies, so leaving some outside your home can attract them.
Leaving their cage open outside: Your bird will likely be looking for some security and safety after the excitement and danger of flying in the wild. Their open cage will be an attractive option, and once they fly in, it'll be easy to close the door and bring them back inside.
Call their name: Your voice will be particularly comforting to your bird, and they'll be able to hear you calling from far away. Try calling their name or specific words you've trained with, like 'treats!'.
Your bird will likely be looking for some security and safety after the excitement and danger of flying in the wild.
4 Ways to find a pet bird that's flown away
1. Report them missing
Local animal shelters: Many shelters will receive hundreds of reported sightings of lost pets every day. This makes them an incredibly useful resource when you're seeking information about your missing bird.
Animal control: Animal control departments will be able to provide you with expert advice and resources to help your search, like humane traps. They'll also be able to help search for your bird and notify you of any sightings that are reported to them.
Veterinarians: Reporting your lost bird to local vet offices and the vet you are registered with is an important step. Alongside this, you should ensure other veterinarians in the area are aware of your missing bird. This means if someone does manage to capture your pet or finds them injured and takes them to a vet, they'll know who to contact.
2. Spread the message
Knocking door-to-door: Sometimes, the most effective way to spread the message is to simply go door-to-door. Having a real conversation, face-to-face with neighbors can encourage them to help in the search effort. You can also hand them photos of your bird so they can identify your pet if they do spot an exotic looking bird in the wild.
Distributing lost pet flyers: Sticking up posters in high-footfall areas can be a fantastic way to grab the public's attention. Download and print PetRadar's free lost pet poster to save some valuable time and get posting!
Posting on social media: Posting in local groups on WhatsApp and Facebook for your neighborhood can be effective in notifying huge numbers of people in the area about your bird. You can monitor comments and shares for reported sightings and follow up on them quickly.
3. Start a PetRadar search
Send you an expertly designed missing pet poster: Our personalized posters use a unique QR code, so you don't have to publish your personal contact details and risk getting prank calls or scammed. This means when passers-by see the poster, they can simply scan the code with their phone and be taken to the listing of your missing pet on our site.
Offer constant support and guidance: Our team of animal lovers will be with you every step of the way. We'll send you regular updates on your search, provide articles full of relevant and practical advice, and be there for a chat whenever you need.
List your pet on our website: We'll also create a listing of your lost bird on our website. This means if someone does find them and searches for lost birds in the area, your listing will pop up on search engines, and they'll be able to contact you straight away!
4. Physically search for them
High buildings
High fences
Nearby trees
Bushes
Abandoned buildings
Bring food and treats with you
Bring their favorite toys
Keep calling their name and making other familiar sounds
Go solo, so you don't frighten or intimidate them
Listen for their call
FAQs
When birds fly away, do they come back?
Often, if your pet bird flies away, they will return to you. However, if they aren't cared for properly or feel distressed or afraid in your home, it's possible they won't return.
How to get your bird back when it flew away?
To get your bird back when they have flown away, you need to be patient and proactive. First, report your lost bird missing. Then, spread the message throughout your neighborhood and physically search for them. You can also leave their cage outside to lure them back home.
What happens if your bird escapes?
If your bird escapes, you need to act quickly to get them back home. They will likely fly to the highest point they can find to feel safer and assess the environment. Report them missing, spread the message to your neighbors, and physically search for them to get the home quickly!
What to do if you find an escaped bird?
If you find an escaped bird, you should report it to local animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal control as soon as possible. This will help the message get back to the owner. If possible, catching them in a humane trap or cage and taking them to a shelter is even better!
Why do birds fly away?
Pet birds can fly away for many reasons, including fear, distress, and neglect. However, some pet birds can live a very happy life and still fly away because of their instinctual desire to fly.
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.
