Guest Author - Donna Powell

More birds are lost during the spring and summer months. Here are probably the three most common reasons and suggestions for prevention:

1 - Doors and windows are opened and or left open more frequently. Traffic is usually higher because kids and their friends are in and out all day. Open windows should have screens that are properly secured. All doors should be locked and entry allowed by someone from the inside, if the bird is out of its cage. If this seems inconvenient, it is not as inconvenient as looking for a lost bird or the stress, guilt and the "if I had only" thoughts that will haunt you.

2 - Cages are moved outside allowing the bird access to warm weather and fresh air. During transport bottoms can dislodge from small and medium cages. Always carry the cage cradled in your arms, never by the handle. Also, some birds are known to be escape artists and can easily open the doors and feeding areas. To prevent this plastic tie wraps should be applied to doors and to secure the bottom. This is a small price to pay to keep a cage safe for your bird.

3 - Owners have the false sense that the bird will not fly away because it stays on the shoulder in the house. The spacial area for locating inside varies vastly from the outside. A sudden loud outside noise can startle and cause your bird to take flight into the great blue yonder. The person can suddenly and unexpectedly stumble, trip or fall. The normal reaction of a bird is to spread and flap its wings as you would try to break your fall with hands and arms. The aerodynamics of flight related to speed of the forward motion from the fall, tilt of the wings, air pressure, air current and weight of the bird come into play. All birds, whether wings are clipped or not clipped, should have a harness and lead that is secured to that person. Prevention is always the best defense.

There are other reasons....and if you think of it...this means it could happen. Take the precaution to prevent it - nothing is too little to keep your bird safe.


Donna Powell started the website and mailing list 911 Parrot Alert that lists lost and found birds worldwide in the hopes that these birds will find their way back home again. Many birds have been lucky enough to have been re-united with their owners, thanks to Donna and the rest of the volunteers associated with this group.