Budgies got out of outdoor aviary... How can I catch them?

Hey. It's been a while since I posted on the forum but I have a BIG problem. So I built a really nice (if I do say so myself lol) outdoor aviary that I had 6 budgies and 4 zebra finches. They've been in there for a couple weeks now.
About 2 nights ago something tried to get inside. Idk if it was an animal or a person but whatever it was completely ripped apart the mesh netting and there are no birds inside. I'm assuming all of them flew out and none were eaten or taken. I see all 6 budgies. They haven't gone far at all but I don't see any of the finches. Is there a way to catch them and put them back? I've tried leaving a few smaller cages with feed in them. I saw one budgies inside but when he saw me he flew away. They are currently living in a huge oak tree. any suggestions?
I'm in South Carolina if that makes any difference? Will they be ok? I also saw one at the wild bird feeder eating sunflower seeds. All 6 of these birds were raised by their parents so they were never tamed at all. The only human interaction they've had is me coming to feed them.
Just freaking out a little. Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated!!




I would Also like to add that the aviary was built in the corner of my horse paddock. It sits right outside a heavily wooded area. So the birds are living in the trees. I just went out there and set out some more food in the cages and refilled the bird bath/waterer. It's dark so I can't see them but I did hear just obvious budgie chatter.

I have no advice except keep feeding them and watering them. Poor things might not know how to survive on their own.

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear of this happening! Is there some way you can set out several cages with food and water (they'd love seed and millet sprays), and somehow rig the doors to close when a bird jumps inside? This sounds like you have a chance with the cages since one did go in. Too bad it flew out when you approached. Then again, if the door shuts, the other ones would be smart enough to not get trapped. Oh gosh, I wish I had a better answer for you. With the above method, you might get a couple but probably not all. How about if you fix the aviary well enough that there is no room for escape, yet have lots of good food inside? Keep the door open. They should all follow each other as a flock.

I'd set up security cameras too. And get a guard dog . Kidding about the dog, but really some sort of security needs to be in place when you have an outdoor aviary. I've heard of similar instances before. People and wild animals can be predators to unattended aviaries. I wish you luck with this.

I am working on the aviary. I had to order the mesh netting I had so it'll take about a week to get that. I'm out here now with the horses and I still see all 6 budgies. They are really sticking together. I also saw a pair of the zebra finches at a bird feeder I had out.
I sat and watched them for about an hour and they don't seem to be stressed out at all. They actually look quite happy. They were playing on the big hay bales near the horses. And I know they are eating because I see them coming to the smaller cages to eat and they just found the peach tree so they've been spending a lot of time there. I haven't tried trapping them as I don't want to stress them out and make them leave.
I'm thinking of putting some nest boxes on their home tree. When they were in the aviary they slept in the nest boxes so I may be able to catch them that way.
One of them has been picking out sticks, grass, horse tail hair and taking it back to the cage. I've seen her do it so it looks like they view the cage as a safe place. I notice that they really don't go very far away from the tree unless they're all flying together and even then they do a couple laps and go to their tree.

Bribe them back with food is probably your best option.

I agree about using cages to try to lure them into with food. A friend captured a Zebra finch that had been flying around her yard using that technique. It took her almost a week, but she finally got him. Your idea of a nest box may work as well. Don't lose hope and best of luck!

Maybe you should put a bird feeders filled with millet and what not out on the trees where they like to hang out. At least this way, if you can't catch them, they at least have a source of food while in the wild.

Depending on how much you care long term, you could just plant some of the seeds close to where they are and let the plants produce seed. This way, they can watch/learn how other birds survive in the wild when they come pick at the seed pods. Maybe the escapees pick it up from them and somehow learn to survive and fend for themselves.

I threw some wild bird seed in a comport pile once, over time the plant flowered/pollinated and produced seed which attracted all kinds of birds. I even saw a run-away group of budgies once picking at the plants out in my backyard. So I know there are wild survivors out there.

If you play music (you can download long mp3's) of parakeets singing, that will attract them. Try to play it in/near the aviary as much as possible. Budgies instinctively will come to other budgies chirping. They usually do not travel far from home. And as advised, definitely keep food and water. As you start catching some, I would put them in a separate cage so that you can still keep your aviary open and staked out to lure more in without the others flying out. Good luck.

Are there any favourtite toys and such. Get a big fish net thats how my sidter caught the budgie who got out on us, worked fine and she was unharmed.

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Typo I meant "sister". This budgie was also clipped so she did not get far although she sure could move fast.

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Maybe an animal trap would come in handy ... racoon maybe?

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