Neptune is lost

[SailBoat]

Searching for new food sources:
Within their home area, Birds will fly out in the morning into the wind for a set distance than work a grid across that fly out path. The distance in which they travel across the line is rarely more than a few hundred feet searching for food as they work that grid pattern back to their over-night sleeping area prior to mid-day. In the afternoon, they will adjust the fly out again into the wind, but off right or left of the morning trip.

Visiting known food sources:
Bird feeders and larger natural food sources, rich in seeds, like grassy fields. The more an area has consistent food sources the less they will complete wide searches. But everyday, they will fly search patterns looking for alternative food sources.

Commonly Wind direction:
Every area will have a Common Direction in which the Wind normally comes from. For my area, it is from the Southwest to West for most of the year. It is also the direction that near all Storms come from. Birds caught in a Storm will get carried off to the East to Northeast. When the Storm passes, they will search back to find their over-night sleeping area.

Companion Parrots:
Wild Birds have their parents to teach them the lay of the land if you will. Companion Parrots must quickly learn to follow what other like size Birds in their area are doing and work at building and understanding of the area.

Huge Amazon Feather Hugs Good Friend...

 

[Laurasea]

Well darn the wind comes from the creek area swamp tree area that is wild behind
I gotta find someone with a boat
Thanks for the info Sailboat
I’m thinking he is in the wild area between our two subdivision that has the creek in the middle
There is a lot of wild food available, the shirt distance I can get in the woods I see palm berries, wild cherry, grapes, elder berry, wild blue berries, it’s a plentiful time,
I worry about water as the creek is brackish and tidal

 

[noodles123]

Can you kayak it? I have kayaked on lots of rivers-- going up-stream sucks, but it can be done (depending on the heat and person)...You just don't want to go so far downstream that getting back is impossible in the heat/with the current etc. I used to have really good upper-body strength, but not since covid quarantine lol!
I assume a creek won't be as swiftly moving, but definitely bring a life-jacket just in case and talk to people who know the water (in case there are any drop-offs/falls)..I have also kayaked both directions on creeks.

I guess the other issue is that you would you would do if you found him-- as long as you could get off onto land etc, then it could work, but kayaking back with a bird in a cage could DEFINITELY freak a bird out...oars and what not/instability/possible splashing...You would almost need someone with a better boat to come get you if you managed to catch him..and then go back to get the kayak later. Nice thing about kayaks is that they don't scares birds as much when you approach with them because they are pretty quiet (no engine).

 

[SailBoat]

Well darn the wind comes from the creek area swamp tree area that is wild behind
I gotta find someone with a boat
Thanks for the info Sailboat
I’m thinking he is in the wild area between our two subdivision that has the creek in the middle
There is a lot of wild food available, the shirt distance I can get in the woods I see palm berries, wild cherry, grapes, elder berry, wild blue berries, it’s a plentiful time,
I worry about water as the creek is brackish and tidal

Water is a very important part of a Birds day in the wild.
Brackish water is an issue for most Birds and they tend to avoid drinking it. The tidal effect can be an advantage as those areas commonly will have fresh water upwelling between the low tide level and the high tide level commonly mid level and above. Rarely is there enough for Humans, but commonly plenty for Birds. Beyond the creek, the higher the ground rises, the greater the flow could be. Other natural ponding areas will hold moisture and small amounts of fresh water.

 

[bonita]

Dear Laurasea, I would go for it if you can get a kayak or row boat.I've taken a kayak up a creek at 63. Please let us know and pray before you go. Blessings Bonita

 

[Laurasea]

I spent several hours this morning looking....
It’s hard to maintain Hope

 

[Scott]

You are doing the right thing by searching, Laura. Let your instincts and intuition be your guide.

 

[Laurasea]

Things are pretty bleak ..... I hope an extra boost of prayers from you all will send Neptune to a good human wo return him to me
I was out looking yesterday and had a fall and twisted my ankle pretty good, I’m fine just have to hobble a day or two....
I’m not sure how much I can keep looking at over 40 days.... my other fur babies and feather babies need me to pay attention to them as well
I still cry every day
I still want a miracle

 

[T00tsyd]

Things are pretty bleak ..... I hope an extra boost of prayers from you all will send Neptune to a good human wo return him to me
I was out looking yesterday and had a fall and twisted my ankle pretty good, I’m fine just have to hobble a day or two....
I’m not sure how much I can keep looking at over 40 days.... my other fur babies and feather babies need me to pay attention to them as well
I still cry every day
I still want a miracle

I have logged on each day hoping but perhaps now hard as it is you may have to let go. How long is it since you had a definite sighting? You have searched diligently longer than many might have and you are beginning to realise that others need you too. It will be tough but at the same time you are stopped from healing because the pain is refreshed each day that you leave everything to search.. Only you can decide but everyone understands how much you have tried. Everyone knows what cost it has been emotionally and my feeling for what it's worth now, is that time has come to look to your own health and wellbeing.
You will mourn of course, it will still hurt of course but time will heal.

My thoughts are still with you, take care, it has not been an easy time.

 

[Scott]

I'm wondering, Laura, if one last effort to notify surrounding residents and businesses of Neptune's escape may be helpful? It is possible he was found and kept by an unsuspecting rescuer. Don't want to suggest false hope, only a method that doesn't require as much physical exertion through the wilderness.

 

[Laurasea]

Things are pretty bleak ..... I hope an extra boost of prayers from you all will send Neptune to a good human wo return him to me
I was out looking yesterday and had a fall and twisted my ankle pretty good, I’m fine just have to hobble a day or two....
I’m not sure how much I can keep looking at over 40 days.... my other fur babies and feather babies need me to pay attention to them as well
I still cry every day
I still want a miracle

I have logged on each day hoping but perhaps now hard as it is you may have to let go. How long is it since you had a definite sighting? You have searched diligently longer than many might have and you are beginning to realise that others need you too. It will be tough but at the same time you are stopped from healing because the pain is refreshed each day that you leave everything to search.. Only you can decide but everyone understands how much you have tried. Everyone knows what cost it has been emotionally and my feeling for what it's worth now, is that time has come to look to your own health and wellbeing.
You will mourn of course, it will still hurt of course but time will heal.

My thoughts are still with you, take care, it has not been an easy time.

It is exactly so, I never give in and truly give up and grieve, because I don’t want to give up that he could be alive and I could still find him

Three weeks ago I heard him, he and Penny called back and forth I was right there! This huge storm crashed down on us and I left, when I cane back an hour later between that storm and the next a hawk was sitting on a stump right in front of the scrub and trees I heard him in....I’ve chased off the hawks before sbd they only fly to the next tree ... I was afraid to chase the hawk off because maybe that would be worse..., so I left I knew the next storm would’ve there in a few minutes or half hour....
As I was driving away a hawk flew over carrying a bird!!! I couldn’t tell what the bird looked like or see color because if the stormy grey skie
I’m sobbing and choking
I feel I left him to his death
I was able ther in the morning and spent the whole day there and the next day,
Because he has t been seen or heard since in the last 3 weeks
It just kills me

 

[Laurasea]

The only thing that gives me some hope that I didn’t see hi death , is I didn’t see a long Quaker tail, it was very heavy fir the hawks it struggled some, and the shape was more round , so maybe an armadillo or rabbit.....
but no matter how many times I go back and call or spend hours in that same spot I never have heard him again or see
There is the whole wild areas I can get to, and the home owners along the river are elderly and some I’ve met are hard of hearing, and it’s been so hot in the 90s and 100 with heat index up to 124 so people staying in
I’ve been out in the heat so much I. I’m keep my house close to 80 or I get chills from the AC
And what makes me still hope is that my hearing him was three weeks after he has escaped, so I know he has figure out how to survive....
But now it’s been another three weeks......
Searching is hard because if the heat, both for me and all the wild birds get quite and bunker down during the worst of it, then storms come in the late afternoon it’s so hard
Nearly every day but 2 I think I was out there at sunrise till it got to hot...
My soul is very tortured

 

[saxguy64]

Laura, my friend, only you can know for yourself when it's time to take a break. Doing so doesn't mean you no longer feel the sadness, that you've given up, or that there's no hope. Many of us here pray for that little miracle for you every day.

It's okay to cry. I still have my bad days. One day last week, my boy Patches came up on facebook memories. My favorite picnic photo shoot with him from two years ago. I had to shut myself in my office and didn't tell anyone why. I couldn't believe it hit me like that, but it did.

We all know the lengths you've gone to in your search, and your dedication to dear little Neptune. Allow yourself to take a breath, care for yourself, and your feather and fur babies. We know you'll do what's right for you when you're ready. Continued prayers heading your way.

 

[fiddlejen]

It is exactly so, I never give in and truly give up and grieve, because I don’t want to give up that he could be alive and I could still find him

Three weeks ago I heard him, he and Penny called back and forth I was right there! This huge storm crashed down on us and I left, when I cane back an hour later between that storm and the next a hawk was sitting on a stump right in front of the scrub and trees I heard him in....I’ve chased off the hawks before sbd they only fly to the next tree ... I was afraid to chase the hawk off because maybe that would be worse..., so I left I knew the next storm would’ve there in a few minutes or half hour....
As I was driving away a hawk flew over carrying a bird!!! I couldn’t tell what the bird looked like or see color because if the stormy grey skie
I’m sobbing and choking
I feel I left him to his death
I was able ther in the morning and spent the whole day there and the next day,
Because he has t been seen or heard since in the last 3 weeks
It just kills me

Even IF you don't get him back - it is quite likely that either the storm or else fear of those hawks actually drove him away. Especially where you did not see the tail & it was heavy, it is quite likely that it was indeed some animal like an armadillo or rabbit. He very well could have been blown to a different area. Especially with the hawks there, which might have prompted him to take flight when perhaps there was wind to move him further away.

As Scott said, notifying businesses - residents - veterinarians that he is still missing, is certainly a good idea. He could have been blown/flown far beyond your search radius.

I am certainly praying for your miracle! I am also continuing to believe that, regardless whether he returns to you, that he has survived, and is happy somewhere.

(*Quakers are survivors! They wouldn't be banned in so many states if they weren't!)

 

[Squeekmouse]

(*Quakers are survivors! They wouldn't be banned in so many states if they weren't!)

THIS is the truth!! There are quakers living in the wild up here in Chicago! They survive the horrible heat of summer and the insane storms of spring and the sub-zero cold and snow of winter. If they can survive here, Florida would be no problem for a smart little guy like Neptune.

I agree with the others that you should start letting yourself grieve. This isn't giving up on him, but perhaps think of it as just accepting that he is still out there, doing just fine, but out of your reach. That's what I would like to think anyway. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I will continue to hope and pray and send all my best wishes for a happy ending.

 

[Laurasea]

Thank you Saxguy, Jen sbd thank you squeaky . I’m so glad I will be getting one of your wonderful parrot creations to honor Neptune and fir me to hug on...

I like to think he is having a blast, there was actually another Quaker lost in that neighborhood within the last year. I met the parrots and talked to them , perhaps theirs was a girl and Neptune and her are together , they hadn’t sexed theirs
Wouldn’t that be such a wonderful thing.....

It helps because today has been so tearful

 

[LaManuka]

Laura I am in tears for you too, I can only imagine how tormented you are and I'm so sorry Neptune has not found his way home to you yet. I've had three birds fly off on me over the years and by some miracle I've managed to get them back on the same day, don't ask me how. Seriously I do not know what I would've done if they hadn't found their way home. The not knowing what happened would be the hardest thing.

Your Neptune has two distinct advantages however. Number one is we know how smart he is! And number two, as has been mentioned already, quakers are consummate survivors. No doubt about it, it's a big scary world out there for a domesticated birdie, but I think they have all sorts of survival skills hard-wired into them that we have no idea about. Even my tiny Lilly, when she got away from me at only about 9 or 10 months old, managed to escape a hungry butcherbird by burying herself in fallen leaves at the base of a tree so the predator couldn't see her. So there's every reason to believe that a smart guy like Neptune can survive in his new world.

You are not doing him a disservice by allowing yourself to grieve his absence. He may yet be returned to you and I'm praying that he is, but grieving him doesn't mean you have given up, and I know you never will. I hope the Universe repays you for the love you have lavished on Neptune, and the faith and dedication you have shown in your search for him. The same "God Of Small Things With Wings" that watched over my Lilly is watching over Neptune!

 

[Laurasea]

Thanks Lamanuka,
Three parrots have been lost since I lost Neptune in my small town , all 3 went to a person and wee returned, I wish that would happen fir me...
my front door is set in a hallway so I didn’t see which way he went.... but I was out there calling fir him all day till sunset ....... and the next and the next
It still doesn’t seem real
My ankle is better so I’ll probably be out there again tomorrow because it’s so hard to give up..., every time I think it’s time to face reality the guil, the hope, the aches pull me back out
To come so close to him and have that storm hit us unbelievably unfair in my opinion
I wish my karma was good enough that the universe would return him back to me, we were supposed to grow old together.....

 

[Jen5200]

I’m still hoping he finds his way to a person and back to you. Keeping you and your flock in my thoughts.

 

[Laurasea]

I went and more laminated flyers, and many of my original flyers had been removed even tho they are laminated and placed secure
So that was 60 bucks gone and they were in perfect shape nit done tattered junk
So I spent 40 more bucks fir laminated flyers.....
I went to some different neighborhood calling and talked to a few people even tho I st risk and seriously worried about being in the new epicenter of the virus...
I still wake up every thinking I will find him or someone will call who found him