A nightmare came true!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I had Ida outside, flight suit on, she spooked, tether broke and I watched my beautiful darling fly away. Long story short after miles of walking, knocking on neighbors doors, she flew back to the apartment roof but wouldn't come down. I brought out the play gym, even the other birds in their cages, nothing. We got a ladder and the ladder spooked her. Off she went again...

By this time it was starting to get dark. Lucky my neighbors were helping me. She flew on top of a sand, gravel, etc business. A friend and I climbed to the top of the rock sorter and Ida tried to fly to my friend but over shot. I flew down and called her, she circled back around and landed on a deck thing and I had to climb up this ladder that seemed to go to the top of the world it was so high up. She came to me when my head was in sight, I swooped her in my arms and hugged her tight. A friend had to get behind and hold me up so we could get back down, I couldn't climb down holding her. I am so thankful to all of those that helped me. She is safe, and unharmed.

On a side note writing this made me think of a question that was asked to me. The person asked if I had my parrot on a leash because I was afraid our bond wasn't strong enough. I answered No, I am fearful of losing her, and never forgiving myself if I lost her... Well she came looking for me, and we whistled back and forth, and she flew back to our apartment, she just didn't know how to get down from so high up. So I would say our bond is pretty strong.

That must have been terrifying for you both. I'm so glad you got your baby back.

Oh how terrifying! Every-time I take any of my birds out I'm afraid something terrible is going to happen and one will get lost. There are so many lost bird threads on the local sites it's insane. I hate when people have to ask if your bond isn't strong enough, quite frankly I'm pretty sure most of my birds would fly off. I'm also 100% sure they would want desperately to come home after the fun of flying off wore down, and then wouldn't be able to find their way back or would fall prey to another animal. It's so great that you spent the time to look for your bird, so many people don't seem to put in the effort of looking for their lost bird.

Im glad things turned out good for you and Ida. Its a scary feeling and im sorry you had to go through all that. At least she's back home safe with you.

oh god i started reading this and my heart jumped into my throat! so glad you got her back safe and sound!

I am very lucky. All I kept thinking in those 4 or so hours is 'I am never going to see her again.' 'I am a terrible parrot mom.' etc. I thought for sure a dog, cat, or hawk got ahold of her. She's a smart little girl and she wanted to come home. I am still very shaken, still reliving seeing her fly away and my heart sinking. I can't help but think though if it wasn't for the flight suit and me taking her on walks around the apartment, and down the roads, in the car etc... that she knew where she was suppose to be. Also, no one can ever tell me parrots aren't loving pets because as soon as she was in my arms she hugged me back.

How terrifying for you both! I'm so glad you got her back!

i am soo glad you got her back, and as good a flyer as nut is, she can't fly down the stairs!!

suebee said:

i am soo glad you got her back, and as good a flyer as nut is, she can't fly down the stairs!!

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Hah to laugh at this - I've MADE Merlin learn that, and we're working on recall incase any incident like this does happen. But I think the main problem with most of the bird loss cases are... the bird can't get "back down". So we'e been working on that especially!

I'm so so so so glad you got your baby back, it's such a horrible feeling thinking you've lost your baby. I don't think Merlin would ever be off leash (we use Aviator too, so no clips/etc) but I hope to god he does what your baby did and at least try to ge home to the point I can help him! Your birds look happy with you in that picture I can see why theyd want to come home!

WOW, you are one lucky person. As far as the bond thing goes, no matter how strong your bond is, BIRDS GET SPOOKED and off they go. You were lucky this time, but next time maybe not so. So folks like the untethered flight of their birds and for them I think that's great. But if I wante to watch a bird free flight, I would turn on National Geographic. I think it's neat to watch birds flying around and then coming back to their owners. But only takes one time for them to get spooked and then all that training means nothing. I think more of the welfare of my animal, that's why their wings are clipped.

I see ads on Craigslist in my area all the time for lost birds that flew out an open door or got loose while transporting. Anywhere from African Greys to Amazons to Macaws.

So glad you got her back. Merlin got out on me a few years ago. He didnt go far, but I was scared to death. I bet your heart is still beating fast.

Abzeez said:

I am very lucky. All I kept thinking in those 4 or so hours is 'I am never going to see her again.' 'I am a terrible parrot mom.' etc. I thought for sure a dog, cat, or hawk got ahold of her. She's a smart little girl and she wanted to come home. I am still very shaken, still reliving seeing her fly away and my heart sinking. I can't help but think though if it wasn't for the flight suit and me taking her on walks around the apartment, and down the roads, in the car etc... that she knew where she was suppose to be. Also, no one can ever tell me parrots aren't loving pets because as soon as she was in my arms she hugged me back.

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You are very very lucky. Your an amazing parrot mom
Ida is so adorable, I love that pic

I still want to get her the aviator flight harness. I think it would be much safer then the flight suit/diaper with just a velcro strip holding it on. She likes to be outside, and I like having her out there, but now I am extremely fearful. I just really don't want to take that away from her, because being a CAG I want to expose her to new things and not have her just used to the house. What do you guys think? We were going to order the aviator this week and start working with her on flying back and forth and work with her on learning to come down from up high anyway. I am just so nervous now.

Thanks for the support. Even today I am still a bit shaken.

You are very very lucky. Your an amazing parrot mom
Ida is so adorable, I love that pic

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Thank you that means a lot.

Try recall training. Put her in situations like in a tree, come to mom. I think alot of escaped birds would come home if they knew how to fly from a tree, etc. Merlin was only 10' off of the ground when he escaped, he wouldn't or couldn't come down. He set up there like "don't I look good in this tree". I thought I would pass out. All of my experience w/remaining calm w/animals, out the window. I was so afraid that my husband had to get him down. I was afraid he would sense how scared I was & react. Something I never want to repeat. So glad you go baby Ida back.

Ida was on top of a VERY tall building after she flew off the apartment building. I think I walked past her twice and only went back because I heard her whistling for me. From where I was she looked to be the size of a quarter. It was awful. Lucky the building she was on had all sorts of dangerous ladders and rock sorters etc. I climbed up the size of a silo type thing that was at least 3 maybe 4 stories up. I don't wish that for anyone. I just had to keep trying because I knew she wouldn't come to just anyone. I am glad you got Merlin back. How awful. Did he seem stressed at all when you got him back? Ida seemed to be a bit, but as soon as I got her in the car she was like 'whatever.'

Good idea on the recall training. We don't have a staircase, but we have plenty of trees.

No the fidiot seemed elated. But he was 10' off the ground above our deck, he was very familar w/the deck since I take him out in his cage every sunny day. He didnt get into unfamilar territory, god forbid.

Thats awful. Even with clipping my parrots all can fly well. So I guess in Ida's case it was good that she was able to fly. If she would have crash landed in the woods some where I would have never found her.

Omg I'm so happy she's safe with you.
You did good on getting back. Breath and feel releaved she's back. Don't stress over whats in the pass. Can't live is "woulda, coulda, shouldas".
I'm so so sorry you had to endure this though. So sorry.
Good thing she was fully flighted. Something much worse coulda happened!!
Again I'm so sorry this happened I'm releaved for you.