How to Help This Lost Parakeet?
August 13, 2019 8:04 PM Subscribe
My parents' 1/4 acre backyard is somewhat of a wildlife refuge, and there are always tons of happy birds around. A couple days ago, a parakeet turned up. He's waiting in line for the bird feeders, hanging out in the trees, generally acting like any of the other birds. But there are no other parakeets for him to socialize with, and eventually it'll get chilly (around two months from now). How can I help him?
My parents can't have him in the house because they have a cat, and frankly, they're not really bird people anyway. So, for the sake of his well-being, I figure that he needs to be rescued before fall (October or so).
I'm hesitant to call animal control because I'm worried that they'll just stuff him in a cage somewhere or even euthanize him. I am also worried that if I put up signs that there's a lost parakeet, that it'll just attract a bunch of random schmucks who are thinking, "hey, free parakeet!" and not his actual owner (who might be anywhere?). I'm not sure how realistic these worries are -- I'm pretty ignorant of birds, aside from watching them flying and playing around outside.
He's not in any immediate danger, but I'm worried about a month or two from now when fall comes on and it really gets chilly. Worst case scenario, I will try to take him in (I live in a condo nearby)...but I don't even actually know how to do that, and have never even thought about having a pet bird. Link to adorable photos.
Also, is there anything I can do to make his stay at my parents' more comfortable? They have a variety of feeders, a birdbath, and the birds and squirrels seem to have a grand old time there. But of course, none of the other wildlife are parakeets.
This is in the Washington, DC area.
My parents can't have him in the house because they have a cat, and frankly, they're not really bird people anyway. So, for the sake of his well-being, I figure that he needs to be rescued before fall (October or so).
I'm hesitant to call animal control because I'm worried that they'll just stuff him in a cage somewhere or even euthanize him. I am also worried that if I put up signs that there's a lost parakeet, that it'll just attract a bunch of random schmucks who are thinking, "hey, free parakeet!" and not his actual owner (who might be anywhere?). I'm not sure how realistic these worries are -- I'm pretty ignorant of birds, aside from watching them flying and playing around outside.
He's not in any immediate danger, but I'm worried about a month or two from now when fall comes on and it really gets chilly. Worst case scenario, I will try to take him in (I live in a condo nearby)...but I don't even actually know how to do that, and have never even thought about having a pet bird. Link to adorable photos.
Also, is there anything I can do to make his stay at my parents' more comfortable? They have a variety of feeders, a birdbath, and the birds and squirrels seem to have a grand old time there. But of course, none of the other wildlife are parakeets.
This is in the Washington, DC area.
Best answer: Aww, what a cutie! Just to chime in specifically on your concern about advertising that you've found this bird and having people falsely claim it's theirs (which I would be concerned with too), one option is to not include a photo in your "found" advertisements, and if someone gets in touch, ask them to send you a photo of their lost bird. You can frame this as saving them from making a trip to check out a bird that definitely isn't theirs or something like that.
Another option would be to call your local animal control and ask them how they handle lost parakeets that are turned in to them.
posted by litera scripta manet at 8:40 PM on August 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Another option would be to call your local animal control and ask them how they handle lost parakeets that are turned in to them.
posted by litera scripta manet at 8:40 PM on August 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
In my area at least there are neighborhood Facebook groups and nextdoor where you might check to see if anyone has already posted about missing the parakeet. Oh, and https://petfbi.org/
posted by whistle pig at 8:49 PM on August 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by whistle pig at 8:49 PM on August 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Local vets offices might be another place to call and/or put up a flyer. As mentioned above leave out all the details - just say you found a bird. If it's their bird they will be anxious to tell you it's a yellow and green parakeet.
posted by bleep at 8:53 PM on August 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bleep at 8:53 PM on August 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
FWIW I live in the same area and earlier this year got two pet parakeets (also I have a cat and am not a bird person) and they're pretty awesome (fun to watch, chirpy) and low-maintenance (zero smell, easy cleanup, simple food). Also my cat has zero interest in them. If you're able to catch it and decide to keep it, you might enjoy it very much.
posted by nkknkk at 8:53 PM on August 13, 2019
posted by nkknkk at 8:53 PM on August 13, 2019
DC metro lost and found birds on FB.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:54 PM on August 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:54 PM on August 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
I'm hesitant to call animal control because I'm worried that they'll just stuff him in a cage somewhere or even euthanize him.
If you can't find the owner, a city like Washington DC has local and state-based bird and parrot rescue groups
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:18 PM on August 13, 2019
If you can't find the owner, a city like Washington DC has local and state-based bird and parrot rescue groups
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:18 PM on August 13, 2019
Just as a point of information, wild parakeet colonies thrive in numerous places on the east coast, including Brooklyn.
posted by spitbull at 5:23 AM on August 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:23 AM on August 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
Are you on Nextdoor? I see posts about lost parakeets from time to time on ours in the Silver Spring, MD area.
posted by XtineHutch at 6:00 AM on August 14, 2019
posted by XtineHutch at 6:00 AM on August 14, 2019
Response by poster: Thank you for all your advice!
I called the city humane society this morning and they just got back to me. They want to loan us a cage, with the idea that we'll put it out in the yard and (eventually) entice the parakeet inside. Animal control apparently likes this plan, too -- they aren't going to come and try to catch him.
I don't have Nextdoor or access to a neighborhood facebook group (my parents don't, either), and even though I live nearby, I'm actually in a different neighborhood from my parents anyway.
At this point, I think I'll make up some flyers (no pic, just "Bird Found! If you think it's yours, please contact (XXX) XXX-XXXX" kind of thing), and post them at the nearby animal shelter, library, vet, in the park, and on telephone poles. If nobody claims him, and we manage to entice him into the cage, then I'll make a home for him at my place.
According to my mom, he's been hanging out with the other birds and has now discovered peanuts. It sounds like he's having the time of his life. I don't think that budgies are hardy enough for winter here and there are some hawks that start prowling when the weather gets cold, but for right now he seems to be in good shape and among friends.
posted by rue72 at 7:25 AM on August 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
I called the city humane society this morning and they just got back to me. They want to loan us a cage, with the idea that we'll put it out in the yard and (eventually) entice the parakeet inside. Animal control apparently likes this plan, too -- they aren't going to come and try to catch him.
I don't have Nextdoor or access to a neighborhood facebook group (my parents don't, either), and even though I live nearby, I'm actually in a different neighborhood from my parents anyway.
At this point, I think I'll make up some flyers (no pic, just "Bird Found! If you think it's yours, please contact (XXX) XXX-XXXX" kind of thing), and post them at the nearby animal shelter, library, vet, in the park, and on telephone poles. If nobody claims him, and we manage to entice him into the cage, then I'll make a home for him at my place.
According to my mom, he's been hanging out with the other birds and has now discovered peanuts. It sounds like he's having the time of his life. I don't think that budgies are hardy enough for winter here and there are some hawks that start prowling when the weather gets cold, but for right now he seems to be in good shape and among friends.
posted by rue72 at 7:25 AM on August 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
When we caught someone's pet cockatiel we put out a notice saying "found pet bird". It's people called and identified it on the phone, came by and took it away without a thank you. But it was a nifty temporary friend.
It was a bit frightened at first but it finally came to my husband after he sat around for some time. It may be attracted to a person who is a certain gender.
We had cats and just kept the makeshift cage in a closed off room.
Best of luck!
posted by mightshould at 4:50 PM on August 14, 2019
It was a bit frightened at first but it finally came to my husband after he sat around for some time. It may be attracted to a person who is a certain gender.
We had cats and just kept the makeshift cage in a closed off room.
Best of luck!
posted by mightshould at 4:50 PM on August 14, 2019
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Animal control was ready to handle a parakeet and unsurprised: guess they see them fairly regularly in nice weather when people leave doors and windows ajar.
posted by superna at 8:27 PM on August 13, 2019