Aquila Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 So I have a budgie but he had to stay back in Canada with my parents. Although I miss him, I know he's happy as he has the whole run of the house He is about 7 years old and is very tame...like to sit on people's heads, follows my mom around the house, bombards the dog, and has to be involved in every activity...even when you are trying to cut veggies! Normally in the summer, he is placed outside in his cage in the backyard where he can call to the other birds and have a good look around. Obviously, in the winter is kept out of the -20 C weather. So onto the tale... Part 1. Last Autumn he was flying around indoors and as my mom happened to open the front door in the morning to grab the paper, he was swooping down to land on my mom's head, missed and flew out the door and swung a right around the house. My mom panicked ,grabbed his cage and ran out into the backyard to try to find him. This was the first time something like this happened so my mom was really not expecting it and kinda ran around like a headless chicken. Couldn't see him anywhere...called and called to him but no reply. She spent all day wandering around the neighbourhood trying to find him. She told the neighbours nearby to keep their eyes open, left lots of food in the backyard and waited. Periodically during the day she would go to the backyard and trying calling him in a special chirp that he is used to...but nothing. Evening rolled around and still no bird. At this point the temperature had started to drop and was only about 5 C. My mom was obviously really upset because she thought he was lost and knew he wouldn't likely survive over night Around 8-9pm the doorbell rang. Next-door-neighbour Bob was at the door and told my mom he heard some weird chirping coming from our backyard but said he couldn't see anything in the darkness. My mom ran out and called to him .............. nothing................nothing...................and then CHIRP! She couldn't believe it, it was definitely him but where was it coming from! she took a few steps forward and again she called.......moments later CHIRP! This time she could tell it was coming in from around the house. She turned the corner and looked...finally she saw him! He was clinging to the window panels looking into the living room! She walked up cautiously and talked to him because she was worried that he would get startled and fly away again. He didn't even move, she reached out and basically was just able to pick him up off the window (normally he is a bit finicky and normally doesn't like being held like that). He was really cold and stiff and didn't fight at all. She brought him in placed him back in the cage on a hot water bottle and covered him with a towel and she left him in peace. About 1 hour later, he crawled out and then went straight to his food dish and pretty much just ate for 10 minutes straight. When he was done he started chirping and mumbling and grumbling and making all kinds of excited noises to my mom in what seemed to be a glorious tale of what he had seen during his adventure... Nonetheless my mom was just glad that he managed to find the house again in the dark! Part 2: Well obviously security would have to be increased since his first breakout probably gave him a taste for freedom and he obviously didn't realize the real danger he was in. Although he did seem to sense that my mom saved his life because he became even more attached to her and would actually look for her in the morning before she even got out of bed! Both my mom and step-dad always made sure the doors weren't opened just when he happened to be flying nearby and would always try to put him back into the cage before they left the house. Well one busy morning this early spring my mom was leaving and trying to convince him to get back into his cage and my step-dad just happened to come back from an early meeting. As he was coming in through the garage door, the chaos caused by the dog barking and my mom grabbing her things to leave, the bird came swinging around the corner and once again tried to land on my step-dad but noticed the door open and flew straight out and round to the right again! They both ran out into the backyard...and found him pirched up high in one of the trees. They tried to call to him and coax him back into the cage but he was happily bobbing around on the branch and investigating the other birds nearby. They tried for half and hour and then my mom was really running late and had to go. My step-dad kept his cage out in the backyard and tried to coax him down so more but he just kept flying happily from tree to tree and getting further away from the house. Realizing there was nothing he could do, he left the cage in the backyard and also had to go back to work for a bit. It was a nice warm day so sooner or later he figured he'd get hungry and come back to his cage. He left for work for a couple hours and hoped for the best. When my parents got back they looked out but unfortunately he was was not there. The went outside and began their search. They searched all afternoon and all evening but nothing. They walked around the neighbourhood and asked people whether they saw him. Although the temperatures were warm, the wind got really strong late in the evening and they became very worried for his safety. They were forced to give up late in the night and went to bed. Next day was saturday and so they began their search again. Nothing If he had survived the windstorm, he was definitely in trouble now because it got a bit colder (about 12 C) and it had started raining. Sunday nothing...Monday also nothing. Well...this must be it. He must have died of hyperthermia...mom was really upset and kept crying over the days. Finally on tuesday they called me to tell me what had happen. I told them i'd make up a missing pet poster for them...maybe someone managed to take him in before it got too windy on that friday and they could put it up on the neighbourhood mailboxes. If no one took him in, he had surely died. I also remembered (as i emailed through the poster) that they should call the local humane societies to see if anyone had brought in a budgie matching his description and so i told them to call in the morning when they woke up. Well, the next day, my mom and step-dad started calling the humane societies nearby. At first no one had a description of such a bird, but then finally once place said that someone had indeed called in a found budgie with that description! My mom, excited, started writing down the phone number of the lady who called...but then she realized the area code would put this women on the other side of the city! She asked the humane society lady where this woman had said she lived, and sure enough...it was about 15 km away! Well even though my mom's hope was fading she decided to call the lady anyway. She told her what bird looked like...and the lady was convinced she had our bird. She told her that they found him looking for seeds on their driveway Friday evening around 9pm, and that her husband called her and and she brought a towel. They draped it over him quickly and brought him inside. They were bird lovers themselves and owned several cocktails and a cockatoo i think. So my mom pack up a shoebox in to the car and headed over. When she got their house the lady took her into the room where they had him...and sure enough, IT WAS HIM. The final test was passed when the lady opened his cage and he flew to my mom and landed on her shoulder and cuddled up to her face. The lady said that they liked him so much because he was so friendly and curious. He talked non stop during his 5 day stay! They even named him 'Lucky' and decided that if he ended up finding his owners, they will probably want to go out and buy a budgie of their own! They had printed out posters and put them all around their neighbourhood because he was someone's pet for sure. It wasn't until monday, that they called the humane society to report him. So there you go. 'Lucky' has had 2 close calls with the wild outdoors. He managed to fly about 15 km (with the help of the wind no doubt) in about 12 hours on his second trip and still find some bird seeds on a driveway that was heavily obscured by trees. He was even lucky enough to be brought in and taken care of by 2 bird lovers! Needless to say, if he gets out a third time, we are unlikely ever to find him again. Since he will be looking for every chance he can get now that he's had so much fun, they will have to take drastic measures to prevent him from getting away! I've suggested that they clip his wings for a bit...in an effort to debunk his ego. Its too bad, because he's such an awesome tame budgie...but he will keep trying to push his luck now! Anyways, hope you enjoyed the tales! I was very VERY happy that he got home safely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 That is such a cool story. I am starting to love these stories of budgies. So glad your bird is alright, and that your Mum cares so much for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thanks! I COULDN'T BELIEVE that it turned out to be him! I would have been so sad thinking he died somewhere cold and alone He is quite a little character... He chases my dog around (a little Shih Tzu) and tries to play with the fur on her paws, even though she doesn't want to have any part of it. He always sleeps on his swing, and leans up against the side with his head hanging sideways...kinda looks like a drunk. He is fascinated with eyebrows and lips, and will spelunk down your face while you watch TV to try and get at them. He also does a perfect impression of the microwave and my mom's cellphone...which drove her nuts for a couple weeks when she thought it was broken b/c she would hear it ring and then there was no record of the call on the display! And finally he likes to drink orange juice from your glass...he will sit down on the rim and dunk his head. I miss him so. But its not worth putting him through the stress of the flight and quarantine, plus to take him away from the house he's used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Our budgie, Bud, does similar things. He is free range in the evenings and has developed a fondness for ears. He imitates the phone too but luckily is a slightly lower pitch so we can distiguish between the two! :lol: Bud will attempt to drink anything from your glass as long as it isn't hot. He learned his lesson there! For a while he enjoyed just about tipping himself upsidedown inside an empty mug then making burping noises. I think he liked the echo :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 He sounds like my kind of bird!! :bounce: I have never managed to escape from my house but am impressed with his flying ability. I assume he has a name? You ought to see me skim past people in the hallway - just above head height :lol: Your bird is a lot older than me as I am only 3. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 What a cool story, myself and my wife read it during our morning porridge and it has made our day. We're glad he's safe and sound again, but bet he loved his little adventures..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Awesome stories! Ive got a bird too and despite me disliking clipping flight feathers etc. I found it was safer for non aviary captive birds. A gust of wind got rusty once and sent him up a kauri tree, and then i had to climb up after him as he didn't know how to get back down. Another time another gust of wind sent him 100m down the drive and he sat on the pavement and called out to the neighbourhood cats, "meow, come on, meow". best to get captive birds clipped so they don't get released into the wild, as the tamest ones won't survive a cold winters night. sounds like you have quite the adventurer on your hands, got any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Epic adventures indeed! The most adventurous thing my Indian Ringneck, Treo, has ever done is rage-squawk at a caged Kea... and then he ran away in terror. :roll: I love my retard, (though I can't wait 'till he can fly again). :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Cheers all! He sounds like my kind of bird!! :bounce: I have never managed to escape from my house but am impressed with his flying ability. I assume he has a name? You ought to see me skim past people in the hallway - just above head height :lol: Your bird is a lot older than me as I am only 3. 8) Cute Sounds like you are living the life! Well his name was Billbert when I first got him but it didn't really stick. So now it is just 'Bird' or 'Birdie'. I think he likes that because he can say them! He also says 'come here' What a cool story, myself and my wife read it during our morning porridge and it has made our day. We're glad he's safe and sound again, but bet he loved his little adventures..... I'm happy that you enjoyed them Awesome stories! Ive got a bird too and despite me disliking clipping flight feathers etc. I found it was safer for non aviary captive birds. A gust of wind got rusty once and sent him up a kauri tree, and then i had to climb up after him as he didn't know how to get back down. Another time another gust of wind sent him 100m down the drive and he sat on the pavement and called out to the neighbourhood cats, "meow, come on, meow". best to get captive birds clipped so they don't get released into the wild, as the tamest ones won't survive a cold winters night. sounds like you have quite the adventurer on your hands, got any pics? Hahaa...I bet the cats were terrified! They were like "What do we do???" My mom is a bit weary to do the clipping herself. I even showed her how with pics on the internet. I told her to underclip the wings, that way he will still be able to fly short distances and it'd be less of a shock. She will have to get the vet to do it if she doesn't want to try. I had his wings clipped right when I first got him. Thats how he became tame quickly I think. I left his cage door open from the beginning, and a few times I coaxed him out and just set him down on the coffee table while i did homework so he'd get used to me. I'll try to get some pics up soon Epic adventures indeed! The most adventurous thing my Indian Ringneck, Treo, has ever done is rage-squawk at a caged Kea... and then he ran away in terror. :roll: I love my retard, (though I can't wait 'till he can fly again). :bounce: Aww sweet Treo Lets hope they are the last ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Here are some pics of Bird! (click on them to see bigger version) Trying to inform us that he wants out of his cage... Time at the mirror This is what happens when I try to do some work... Investigating the new plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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