Confession time...

Ramble

Active member
Jul 4, 2019
65
125
Now in the beautiful Midwest!
Parrots
Bertie, the feisty, 17-yr-old, road-trippin’, green cheek conure
At the beginning of the year, while I was raising two other rescued hatchlings, my cockatiel, ThirdBird, escaped. :eek: My dog pushed open the door and the bird followed him out. I was mortified. Felt horrible. I kept tracking him for weeks. Since he had a particularly unique warble, it was easy to follow him around and see him in the trees. The tough part was that he was a pearl just starting to molt so pictures weren't going to help my neighbors recognize him. As the weeks passed, other cockatiels got spotted and captured but none of them turned out to be ThirdBird.

For months I kept hearing him in the neighborhood (the joy of sunny SoCal--it doesn't get painfully cold!). But I never caught him.

Until...this week! WOOT! I repeat, WOOOOOT!!!! Someone on our local NextDoor app found an injured cockatiel in her yard, so I went over to take a look. Even before I looked at it, I told her that ThirdBird had been gone quite some time, so that might not be him. I also told her that if it was banded, it wasn't ThirdBird. But once I looked at this unbanded, gnarly, injured, now pretty much grey cockatiel--I was sure it was ThirdBird.

Still, another person contacted her saying not to take it to the shelter, because he was sure it was his. Because ThirdBird had been gone so long, I wanted to be fair to this other person (but I was more than a bit suspicious.) I told him I had the bird, and if he had pictures, that would be helpful. I also let him know the bird had a broken foot, possible other injuries and needed immediate medical care.

With that, it was off to the avian vet...where we learned the left foot was hosed. The toes didnt bend and it was pretty swollen. One toe on the other foot might be broken, too. I forked over a bunch of cash, got some painkillers and anti-inflammatory meds and took him home. (Follow-up Friday for the next step.)

And the other guy? Never called back. I guess the bird with big vet bills doesn't belong to him. Too bad. :09:
And I now live in a place with double doors on all the exits, so he won't be out again.

Oh, did I mention...WOOOOOOT!!!!!! :grey:
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
Wow, YAY! These little guys are aces at healing bone, too, so with luck your guy should make a swift recovery.
 

Tami2

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2017
5,088
2,454
New Jersey
Parrots
Levi - 6 yr old CAG

DOH-4/2/2016
Almost a year, that's amazing. Absolutely wonderful news. I love happy endings. :heart:
 

ParrotGenie

Member
Jan 10, 2019
946
19
Indiana
Parrots
2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
Good thing you found the little guy and he heal fast as they are quite good at healing. Baby the U2 injured herself just 2-3 weeks ago and she flying and getting into trouble again.
 
OP
Ramble

Ramble

Active member
Jul 4, 2019
65
125
Now in the beautiful Midwest!
Parrots
Bertie, the feisty, 17-yr-old, road-trippin’, green cheek conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Almost a year, that's amazing. Absolutely wonderful news. I love happy endings. :heart:

I know! I know of other people who have found their birds a year or more later, so I was holding out hope--though Bertie (the older conure I adopted in July) is really thinking I should just let ThirdBird go back outside.:D
 

Squeekmouse

Well-known member
May 31, 2017
840
337
Illinois
Parrots
Yoda, Green Cheek Conure - Trigger, Congo African Grey
Oh wow!!! Wonderful news! Congratulations and welcome home ThirdBird!
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,629
9,980
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Congratulations of the return of your sweetheart!
ThirdBird is one lucky Tiel...
Thank you for holding out all hope! Wonderful things do happen and I am so happy that 'wonderful' found you and ThirdBird.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
I hope ThirdBird thinks twice about following Doggo outside again :eek: Also happy to know you live in an area of the country where it is mostly warm year round,up here in New England it's starting to get real chilly :eek:

Welcome home ThirdBird...and don't do that again! You freaked Mama ( and everyone else) out!!


Jim
 
OP
Ramble

Ramble

Active member
Jul 4, 2019
65
125
Now in the beautiful Midwest!
Parrots
Bertie, the feisty, 17-yr-old, road-trippin’, green cheek conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
I hope ThirdBird thinks twice about following Doggo outside again :eek: Also happy to know you live in an area of the country where it is mostly warm year round,up here in New England it's starting to get real chilly :eek:

Welcome home ThirdBird...and don't do that again! You freaked Mama ( and everyone else) out!!

Jim

Yeah...it's been a long year! The double doors will help keep ThirdBird from wandering now...lol. Though, for a while at least, he's stuck in the recovery cage. On the plus side, he's eating like a garbage disposal! :D
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
I just noticed your header on top of member profile.. "ThirdBird..back from his world tour"..now THATS FUNNY!...but seriously...glad he is home where he belongs!


Jim
 
OP
Ramble

Ramble

Active member
Jul 4, 2019
65
125
Now in the beautiful Midwest!
Parrots
Bertie, the feisty, 17-yr-old, road-trippin’, green cheek conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Well, good and bad on the follow up today. The vet says, even though ThirdBird's foot isn't bending, it does look better, and he's acting more alert. No surgery. :D Unfortunately, now it looks like he has a ruptured air sac.:eek:

She says it can just happen when they flail around (which ThirdBird did quite a bit his first couple of days back.). I was concerned he might hurt himself when he was stressing so much taking the painkillers that I skipped them yesterday. The vet discontinued his meds and wants to take a conservative approach for now, and recheck his air sac in two weeks while I monitor him closely at home.

He's also developed a tiny pressure spot on his good foot from the perch, so the little guy has to go into a perch-free zone for two weeks. Therefore, extra stuff to play with and treats to come.

This poor dude has been through the ringer! He's due for some happy 'tiel time!:grey:
 

Squeekmouse

Well-known member
May 31, 2017
840
337
Illinois
Parrots
Yoda, Green Cheek Conure - Trigger, Congo African Grey
Wow... poor little guy!!! He's very lucky to have you taking care of him again.
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,038
8,732
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Thirdbird, my dear, let me join the throng in welcoming you home.
Now for mercy's sake, get well and let your parront recover, too!

P.S.
WOOT!
 

Most Reactions

Top