Devastation

[BirdieDad]

I lost my best friend to utter stupidity. I have no idea how to deal with it and so I am putting it here. The love of my life, my bird has been lost. I have so much intense anger and sadness. I don't know what to do or where to start. Thank you to anyone who read this and sent positive vibes my way.

 

[LaManuka]

I lost my best friend to utter stupidity. I have no idea how to deal with it and so I am putting it here. My wife (after begging her to not leave the doors open) she felt that my Scarlet was trained well enough that she would never fly out. I told her a million times. She calls me while I am clear across the country cleaning up another mess she created, she called me at work to tell me the love of my life is gone and cannot be found. I have so much intense anger and sadness. I don't know what to do or where to start. Thank you to anyone who read this and sent positive vibes my way.

Oh @BirdieDad, how awful, I'm so very sorry!! Have you posted on www.parrotalert.com yet, or checked it for "found" birds? I've had a couple fly away on me due to my own stupidity (always got them back thank God!!) and that was bad enough, I just can't imagine how I'd feel if it was through someone else's doing. I've moved your thread to our "Lost And Found" sub-forum where it's permitted to post your contact details just in case by some miracle someone among our membership finds your Mac. Meanwhile my heart goes out to you and please do let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm so sorry! Way too many members go through this horrible nightmare. How well does your Scarlet fly? Do you live in a rural area or suburban? Which part of the country?

 

[BirdieDad]

Oh @BirdieDad, how awful, I'm so very sorry!! Have you posted on www.parrotalert.com yet, or checked it for "found" birds? I've had a couple fly away on me due to my own stupidity (always got them back thank God!!) and that was bad enough, I just can't imagine how I'd feel if it was through someone else's doing. I've moved your thread to our "Lost And Found" sub-forum where it's permitted to post your contact details just in case by some miracle someone among our membership finds your Mac. Meanwhile my heart goes out to you and please do let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help!

Thank you.

 

[BirdieDad]

I'm so sorry! Way too many members go through this horrible nightmare. How well does your Scarlet fly? Do you live in a rural area or suburban? Which part of the country?

Suburban wooded. There are a ton of predatory birds. Thanks

 

[linnielove]

I feel so sorry for you. All fingers and claws are crossed that your Scarlet will be back home soon.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Suburban wooded. There are a ton of predatory birds. Thanks

Another member FrancieMae lost her Galah over a week ago- the second cockatoo she lost this year. The first was killed by a hawk almost immediately. So heartbreaking.

 

[Francie Mae]

I lost my best friend to utter stupidity. I have no idea how to deal with it and so I am putting it here. My wife (after begging her to not leave the doors open) she felt that my Scarlet was trained well enough that she would never fly out. I told her a million times. She calls me while I am clear across the country cleaning up another mess she created, she called me at work to tell me the love of my life is gone and cannot be found. I have so much intense anger and sadness. I don't know what to do or where to start. Thank you to anyone who read this and sent positive vibes my way.

I’m so sorry to hear this. I hope that you find your baby. Keeping you guys in my prayers.

 

[Francie Mae]

Suburban wooded. There are a ton of predatory birds. Thanks

Macaws are so big that I’m hoping predatory birds wouldn’t want to mess with her. I know their bites pack a large punch, too, so hopefully she’d be able to defend herself.

I lost my bare-eyed cockatoo last spring; he got taken down by two hawks. But I didn’t see the hawks after that even though their nest was down the street, so I think he must’ve severely injured one or both. We found a lot of hawk feathers and neighbors said there was a huge commotion. Their nest isn’t there anymore. If his little beak could maybe cause so much damage, I hope your baby can protect herself, too, if needed. Hopefully it’s not needed. I hope you get her back soon.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm glad to hear that Grim put up a fight!

 

[Corkscr.ew]

I am so sorry. Sending prayers, hugs, and good vibes your way.

 

[rheashard2]

I'm sorry for your loss. This type of situation is one of my fears. Sending prayers for you and hopes.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Hang in there and don't give up.

Probably none of my business but maybe nobody else in your life has given you this advice so I will voice it because I've been in a similar situation.

Divorce over this is OK. Only you can decide that. But this is a *big* *deal* and from the way you worded things, this is not a one off. Been there. It is okay. Even if nobody else acts like it is, it is. Only *you* can make choices like that for yourself.

Hopefully your Mac is just scared somewhere or someone took her in. Keeping you in my thoughts. I'd be out of my mind if my Freedom was missing.

Many, many years ago my bright yellow and white cockatiel got away from me outdoors. It was late fall so not only cold but no leafs to hide him. I saw hawks in the area with my own eyes. Alex bird was out for probably 18 hrs, overnight in the cold, but eventually he flew low enough I was able to scoop him up and we are still best friends 20 some odd years later. Sometimes these stories have happy endings. Hoping yours does.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It does sound like you and your wife have some serious issues and her latest negligence may be the straw that broke the camels back. I don't know how I could come home to an empty cage and have any warm feelings for my spouse under these circumstances. I certainly wouldn't want to be her either. No marriage ends because of one isolated incident.

It may be hard for a person who has never loved a bird to understand how you feel about what happened but if the facts were changed just a bit, substituting a beloved dog for a parrot, and she let your dog run out into a busy highway where he got killed they may empathize more.

 

[BirdieDad]

Hang in there and don't give up.

Probably none of my business but maybe nobody else in your life has given you this advice so I will voice it because I've been in a similar situation.

Divorce over this is OK. Only you can decide that. But this is a *big* *deal* and from the way you worded things, this is not a one off. Been there. It is okay. Even if nobody else acts like it is, it is. Only *you* can make choices like that for yourself.

Hopefully your Mac is just scared somewhere or someone took her in. Keeping you in my thoughts. I'd be out of my mind if my Freedom was missing.

Many, many years ago my bright yellow and white cockatiel got away from me outdoors. It was late fall so not only cold but no leafs to hide him. I saw hawks in the area with my own eyes. Alex bird was out for probably 18 hrs, overnight in the cold, but eventually he flew low enough I was able to scoop him up and we are still best friends 20 some odd years later. Sometimes these stories have happy endings. Hoping yours does.

This it just too much for me. It is like I lost my only child. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to get through this.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I hope with all my heart that you find your macaw. I read through your posts since you joined PF and I can see how much you loved her. It sounds like your wife is history regardless. The heartbreak of losing your baby would make it hard to even look at your wife again with any affection.

I can't tell you how many PF members have lost their beloved birds this way. Another member just lost her second cockatoo in less than a year- both flew out the door. I'm lucky my house is set up so there are no outside doors leading directly into the living area where my birds are. It's buffered by an enclosed porch.

I always say the only drawback with having birds as pets is that they fly and I'm not being a smart-aleck when I say that. It's a huge problem. You can't just walk outside with them on your shoulder unless their wings are clipped and who wants to take away the amazing gift of flight that defines them as birds.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I am getting a divorce, this it just too much for me. It is like I lost my only child. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to get through this.

One day at a time. One hour at a time. One minute at a time.

And don't give up hope. Posting on Craigslist and the other lost pet resources is really a good idea. Those networks find lost birds and bring them home. Not every story has a happy ending, but some do. Hoping yours does.

As for the divorce, document *everything* even if your soon to be ex "doesn't want a messy divorce" and even if it takes a loooong time and you really want to just delete the photos/screenshots. Document everything, and keep the documents. Things aren't final until they are final. "Papers filed and on the judges desk just waiting for their stamp" can still turn into having to go to divorce court.

Hang in there

 

[wrench13]

So quick action by someone who is close to the home can result in recovery of your parrot. Sometimes they dont go very far so a search locally, in radiating circles around the house, calling for the bird should be done ASAP. Then posting flyers at local stores shops, vet offices, pet stores and supply places, supermarkets, gas stations, any where you can think of. Mention a reward is involved, but not the amount! Talk to neighbors to look for her. Put some her fav treats out on your porch etc. The longer one takes for these steps, the chances go down. Recovery IS possible! I've both lost a beloved parrot once and also recovered one, when these steps were taken.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

Never give up hope!

My macaw flew away when I first got him 51 years ago. I had only had him 3 months and his wings were clipped at the time. As he was a wild-caught adult, he was in top physical condition. He was found 3 days later and 6 miles away (as the crow flies ) at a US Air Force satellite tracking station. How appropriate! We needed a top secret security clearance to retrieve him—and my father just so happened to have one! After going through the security checkpoint, I was reunited with my bird in a trailer on the site. He was sitting on a partition eating the commanding officer’s sandwich. He has had very little desire to fly after that scare. It was as traumatic for him as it was for us.

Keep the faith and keep searching!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Maybe you should put a large platform bird feeder in your yard to try to attract her to food. Like sunflower seed if she likes it. I'd put up a 6 inch diameter pvc pole a few feet high (higher the better to discourage squirrels) out in the open if possible, with a large platform on top with sunflower seed, to try to attract her.