I lost my African Grey Congo on October 1st.?

Question

I lost my African Grey Congo on October 1st. 2006 in Yorba Linda. I left it playing with an Eclectus parrot on the playpen for a minute. What I don’t understand is how it flew when its wings were clipped?? This is not suppose to happen according to the breeder. What chances does it have of survival in the wild? The African Grey was 12 weeks old.

Has anyone else had this happen before.. a African Grey that flies with clipped wings

Answer 1

Post "lost" ads, also, at the following:

http://chats.upatsix.com/chats/ (or www.upatsix.com)
www.birdmart.com
www.toolady.com
www.avianbiotech.com
www.parrotpages.com

Post the area where he was lost (street; major intersection; city, state); give a description including ONE special thing that he does or says. Tell them you will be able to tell them other/another thing(s) that he does or says in order to prove that he is yours.

Does he have a leg band? If so, have you written down the number on it? If he has one, but you didn't write it down, contact the breeder and see if s/he has the number.

Make lots of flyers and put them all around the area and all over town. If there was a good wind current, it could have gone farther than you might think.

Contact ALL veterinarians in at least a 25 mile radius and notify them that someone could possibly bring in an African Grey they don't seem overly familiar with. Leave your name, home phone # and cell phone # and tell them the bird's name, give them any identifying factors (blue leg ring, for instance, or breast heavily mottled with red, etc.)

Put ads in your local newspapers and offer as much reward as you possibly can.

I presume the playpen was outside? How can you know that it flew and someone didn't run up and grab it?

As far as your breeder saying this is not "supposed to happen," please remember that the only absolute with parrots is that there are no absolutes with parrots.

I'm really sorry for your loss, but don't give up! People have recovered their birds months after they've gone missing.

You know, just on a hunch, if it were me, I think I would contact every pet store in a 50 mile radius that sells birds to the public ... just in case someone comes in wanting to sell them one that matches the description of yours. Maybe work something out with them about how much you can reimburse them if they will buy it.

Watch local newspapers to see if anyone is selling an African Grey, call any ads and ask to come and see the bird. DON'T TELL THEM YOURS IS MISSING. You'll know if it's yours. If it is, don't risk harming yourself. Ask them if you can put down a small deposit it to hold it for an hour while you "think about it." Leave and immediately call the police to meet you at a designated place so you and the officers can drive to the home together.

Also, all of the sites everyone has given you also has "Found" ads: keep a very, very close eye on those on a daily basis because there are still some honest people out there.

Answer 2

Yes, even with wings clipped, many birds can still fly. When a grey is clipped they usually leave enough of the flight feathers intact so the bird can glide to a safe landing if it jumps off from a high point. This means that with a little help from Mother Nature in the form of a breeze the bird can still fly.

A friend's bird also got out this summer. They were able to get the bird back fortunately.

Try taking the bird's cage outside where the bird will be able to see it. They will sometimes come back to their "homes".

I am truly sorry for your loss and hope the bird comes back.

Answer 3

Your bird was young and not adult size...making it easier to take off. I have heard of birds that flew off after coming home from the vets and just getting their wings clipped. Survival will be hard if not impossible for such a young thing. I am so sorry. You do have good weather going for you. Now, get to work....Make up posters/signs with pictures of your bird (or any Congo) and offer a reward! Search your neighborhood. Put out it's favorite food and some fresh water near where it escaped from. Don't give up hope...birds DO come back. Good luck!

Answer 4

Check with your local SPCA And any other Animal Rescue Center in the Area....... if anyone has called there saying they found one or bought one in. Call every once in awhile to recheck-if I found one thats the type of place I would call to let them know-it is a well know place to turn in Found and Lost Animals.

If it has a band-it could be tracked to the Place that you brought it from so Call there to keep checking also.

Even if it flew- it probably can t fly far with its wings clipped --so put up posters in your area.



I Really hope you will find it soon

Answer 5

iEven if the wings are clipped some birds can fly or glide.Um chance of survival well pretty good but since its a baaby it might have trouble finding food but maybe not. it might try came backi i was really sad that i lost him.am sorri about your lose.My mom had an african grey i was feding it .it lived outside in a cage i went to feed it and its wings were not clipped it flew out the cage and iahve not seen it since my mom was kinda mad at me.

Answer 6

Mine flies pretty good when she's scared, even with wings clipped!
I feel so bad for you, hopefully someone will find it. I would advertise for a missing bird ASAP.

Answer 7

Yes, it can and does happen. Try the sites below. Not sure about your weather there, so, it may be ok. Hopefully you had this bird chipped or banded so that if someone finds it they can contact you.
www.birdhotline.com
www.bayareabirds.org/lostbirds/index.html
www.prettybirds.net/TipsLostBirds.htm
www.birdsnways.com/birds/blost.htm

Answer 8

if you had a really good realation with it he migh t come back put his cage outside with fresh food well chances are he might come back bit at that age he doesnt reall y know how to make it on his own

Answer 9

try the message board at www.cockatielcottage.net they answer all bird questions

Answer 10

well his feathers were growing back thas why.