LOST YOUR BIRD?
What to Do:

        1) Put an ad on under "Pets- Lost and Found." Keep renewing it for at least a year.

            Make sure you have the following on the ad:

a) Title should be "Lost COLOUR/ TYPE of bird in TOWN" eg "LOST Yellow (Lutino) Cockatiel in Kitchener"

b) Repeat the title in the first line of the ad

c) NAME of your bird. This helps us distinguish one ad from another since they are all similar after a while. It helps distinguish one green budgie from another green budgie etc. for people reading the ads and trying to connect you to a found one.
       

d) Write where your bird was lost, approx intersection etc. You don't have to give your street address, but your postal code and cross-streets where the bird was last seen is very helpful. That way our search parties can also go out and look.
       

e) Features that make your bird different than other birds that look similar. Sounds he makes, or special marks on his face etc.
For example, all Lutino Cockatiels look pretty much the same, but mine would snuggle up beside your neck, and when he sat on your arm, he would rip each arm hair out one by one.
       

f) When you do the Lost Bird Report, you will see other behaviors and colours that would be useful for someone finding a similar bird, so write those on your ad as well.
       

g) Your phone number. That way people can call you directly instead of waiting for us to see if we have your information. Kijiji makes it easy to put your phone number in without being harassed by spammers and spambots. Also write if the number is textable, as sometimes the finders are less likely to call if it's long distance.
       

h) Photos and videos that show how your bird may be different from others found.
       

i) If you have a Lost Cockatiel, please check the SPELLING of the word. So many are spelled wrong (cocktail, coakatiel, cockateal) and even though we correct it for our facebook page, the people only looking on kijiji when they find a bird will try to search for "Lost Cockatiel" and your ad won't come up.  Budgies are a type of Parakeet so please write both. Also write "Bird" "Parrot" and "Parakeet" for easier searches. See our Bird Identification Page if you don't know what kind of bird/parrot you had.

        2) Put the cage outside with millet in it. Hang it if possible to avoid cats from getting to them if they go in. Close the door halfway with twist ties so the bird can get in, but predators cannot. Check the cage frequently. Some people are able to catch birds by rigging a string to the door to pull when the bird goes in.

        3) Fill out a Lost Bird Report at   Lost Bird Report. Start by scrolling to the bottom and pressing "Submit. If that doesn't go to your email program, you will have to download the form or print it and send it that way.

        4) Call your local Animal Control or Humane Society and make a report that you lost your bird. Give them all the information you put on the kijiji ad.

        5) File a report at www.parrotalert.com

        6) When www.Perroquetsecours.com and www.LostandFoundBirds.ca volunteers contact you, give them as much information as possible. Both organizations keep a database on file so if we have no way to contact you and no email, we won't be able to call/email when a similar bird is found.

        7) Go to all the pet stores around your area with a poster of your lost bird and phone number. Add www.lostandfoundbirds.ca to it so people can follow online.

        8) Put up posters around your house about 4 blocks in each direction plus all major intersections. That way if anyone spots your bird or finds it, they will know you're looking.

        9) Keep your kijiji ad up even if you lose hope. Some people who find a bird will look on kijiji and if they don't see one that fits the description, they may just keep it.

        10) If you have other birds in your house, check out Magic Mesh online and see if it would work for you. It's a screen you can put up in your hallway to prevent birds from escaping. You can buy it at Canadian Tire and Walmart.

        11) Check out our Grieving Page to find out what you may be experiencing and how different members of your family may be at different stages.

        12) Add kijiji alerts for "Pets- Lost and Found" & "Pets- Birds for Rehoming" so you can search through them every day. Many birds found outside are just sold again, maybe not right away, but eventually when people realize they aren't really "bird" people.

        13) "Like" the facebook pages at   Parrot Alert ,  Perroquet Secours  and Lost and Found Birds Ontario , as well as any local Lost and Found Groups, Animal Shelters and Stuff for Sale groups in your area. (Check links)

        14) If you're not on Facebook, we recommend you get an account, whether your own name or an alias, because facebook is the easier way to get all the latest updates. Your family and friends will also be grateful.

        15) Buy a bottle of Unflavoured Baby Electrolytes (Pedialyte) from your local drug store. If your bird back, feed as water for the first few days, and by syringe if it is not drinking normally. Sometimes people will call you about other birds found outside, who will also need the electrolytes, so please keep some on hand. This helps with dehydration, sickness and starvation.

        16) If you do get your bird back, please take it to the Vet ASAP to be checked for dehydration, disease, or injuries.

MYTHS

1) Pet birds can't live outside. They have no food.
FALSE! Birds can eat at bird feeders and can get both nutrition and water from leaves of trees.

2) Birds don't come back down, esp if they go straight up at 90°.
FALSE! There are birds found all the time across Ontario.

3) Pet birds will be eaten by hawks or cats.
FALSE! Birds are quite smart and usually will stay out of sight of hawks, and out of reach of cats.

4) Birds cannot survive the winter.
FALSE! Many may not survive as food is harder to find, but there have been cases of pet birds seen at bird feeders winter after winter! Most can tolerate temperatures down to -10°C, especially if they were out earlier in the summer and grew winter feathers.