Lost A Parrot? – What To Do If Your Parrot Goes Missing

Losing a parrot can be a heart-wrenching experience, as these beloved companions are a cherished part of our lives. Whether they’ve flown out an open window or escaped during outdoor play, the panic and worry can feel overwhelming. The good news is that with the right approach and timely action, it can be possible for your lost parrot to be reunited with you!

Important note: While we are committed to supporting bird owners and their feathered friends, we do have capacity constraints and may not always be able to take in lost birds. Additionally, we lack the resources to assist with searching for or capturing birds in hard-to-reach places. However, we are here to offer as comprehensive a guide as possible to help you navigate this difficult time, ensuring your lost parrot has the best possible chance of being found again.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Act Quickly

• Assess the situation. Where, when, and how did your parrot go missing?
• Take a deep breath. Panic can delay your ability to take effective action.

Step 2: Immediate Search in the Vicinity

• Search the immediate area.
  • Look for your parrot in nearby trees, bushes, rooftops, and balconies, and even on the ground.
  • Parrots often stay within a 1-2 km radius initially, especially if they’re not experienced flyers.
• Call out to your parrot.
  • Use familiar phrases, whistles, or sounds your bird responds to.
  • Shake their favorite treat bag or toy to catch their attention.
• Keep an eye on the sky and among trees and bushes.
  • Parrots tend to perch high to feel safe. Check tree canopies, power lines, or tall structures.
  • If there is a commotion among birds nearby, check the commotion quickly to see if it might involve your parrot. As our parrots are used to domestic life, they may encroach upon wild birds’ territories when being lost outside, resulting in territorial disputes.
• Bring their cage or perch outside.
  • Place it in a visible spot with food and water. Seeing familiar objects may encourage your parrot to return.
  • If they have a cage mate, bring the cage mate out safely (in a carrier) and encourage the cage mate to chirp, so as to catch your parrot’s attention.

Step 3: Spread The Word Around Your Neighbourhood And Online

Inform neighbors

• Let them know what your parrot looks like and ask them to keep an eye out for it.
• Share details about your bird’s personality or any distinctive sounds it makes.

Create flyers

Information to include:

• A clear photo of your parrot.
• Species, color, and distinguishing features. However, do not disclose any leg ring or microchip information publicly as this will be unique to your parrot and will serve as the identifying feature to confirm if a found bird is yours. This is also to avoid being scammed by others who are just out to extort the reward from you.
• Your contact information.
• Offer a reward, if possible.

Disseminate the information (online and offline)

• Distribute the flyers in your neighborhood, local pet shops, vet clinics, and community boards.
• Put up an entry in Parrot Alert. It will automatically be posted on their Facebook group as well.
• Share your lost and found post on social media in the following groups to garner help from the public:
  • Lost & Found Birds SG (Facebook)
  • Lost and found pets in Singapore (Facebook)
  • Parrots SOS (Lost & Found) Singapore (Facebook)
  • Parrot Care SG (Telegram)
  • Parrot Empire Singapore (Telegram)
  • SG Parrotdise (Telegram)
  • Note: avoid contacting ACRES as their resources are fully dedicated to wildlife, and not companion animals
• Make a report to SPCA via their lost and found form, or call their hotline at 6287 5355
• Call the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) at 1800 476 1600 to check if they have found your parrot
• Advertise in the ‘Lost’ column of the Straits Times by contacting them at 1800 289 9988
• Check the ‘Found’ column of the Straits Times Classifieds to see if someone has found your parrot

You may also reach out to us on our Instagram page via private message with your lost bird poster, so that we can share it on our Instagram Story and place it in our Highlights. We will direct any enquiries to your Instagram account or phone number as indicated on the flyer. Do remember to notify us if you have reunited with your bird, so that we can take down the information promptly.

What to Do If You’ve Spotted Your Lost Parrot

1. Stay calm and don’t surprise the bird
   • Avoid sudden movements or loud noises. Parrots can be easily scared and might fly further away.
   • Speak to your parrot in a calm and familiar tone, using phrases or whistles they recognize.
2. Offer food and water
   • Place your parrot’s favorite treats, fruits, or seeds in a visible spot below the tree.
   • Offer water in a shallow bowl nearby. Hunger and thirst may encourage the bird to come closer.
3. Use familiar items
   • Bring their cage, perch, or a familiar toy to the area. Seeing familiar objects may help the bird feel safe.
4. Attempt gentle coaxing
   • If your parrot responds to stepping onto your hand, extend your arm slowly while holding a treat.
   • Use a long stick or pole as a perch if the bird is too high up to reach by hand.
5. Call for help if needed
   • If the parrot is too high or in an inaccessible location, you may need assistance. Engage a professional with a cherry picker or boom lift to retrieve your parrot.

Parrots may take time to come down. Remain close by but allow the bird to approach at its own pace.

What to Do If Someone Calls, Claiming to Have Found Your Parrot

1. Ask for verification
   • Request photos or videos of the bird to confirm it is your parrot.
   • Look for distinguishing features like unique markings, colors, leg bands, or behavioral quirks.
   • For disclosing of leg band or microchip number, consider asking the finder to provide half of the serial number while you validate it, and after validation, you can provide the other half of the serial number for their confirmation.
2. Stay cautious
   • Be aware of potential scams. If the caller asks for a reward before sharing any proof or seems suspicious, proceed with caution.
   • Avoid sharing personal information beyond what’s necessary to arrange a meeting.
3. Arrange a safe meeting location
   • Choose a neutral, public place for the exchange, if possible. Bring a secure cage or carrier to transport your parrot.
   • If the bird is at the finder’s home, consider bringing someone with you for added safety.
4. Approach your parrot slowly
   • Speak to the bird in a familiar tone and observe its reaction to confirm it recognizes you.
   • Offer their favorite treat or call out phrases they respond to.
5. Express gratitude to the finder
   • Thank the person who found your bird and consider offering a reward if promised. Their efforts likely played a significant role in reuniting you with your parrot.

Additional Tips

• Prepare to manage your bird’s stress. Once your bird is safe at home, they may still be stressed or frightened. Give them time to settle in a quiet, familiar space at home. It may take a couple of days for your bird to calm down and behave normally.
• Seek veterinary advice. If your parrot has been outdoors for an extended period, a vet check-up can ensure they’re healthy and free from injuries or infections.

By handling these situations with care and patience, you can significantly improve your chances of successfully reuniting with your parrot.

Important Advisory

We understand that losing a beloved pet is an emotional and distressing experience. During this time, you may encounter individuals offering services such as “animal communication” or “special prayers and rituals,” claiming these methods have helped others or themselves find their lost pets.

While we respect personal spiritual beliefs, we would like to kindly caution against engaging such services for the following reasons:

• These methods are not scientifically proven to aid in locating lost pets, and relying on them may delay other practical, effective steps you can take.
• Unfortunately, some individuals offering these services may not have genuine intentions. There have been cases where such approaches were found to be scams, preying on pet owners’ vulnerabilities during a difficult time.

We encourage focusing on proven strategies, such as using local networks, community groups, and practical search methods to maximize the chances of finding your pet. Your time and efforts are precious, and we want to help you use them in the most effective way possible.

I’ve Found/Spotted A Lost Parrot

Refer to this page for instructions of what to do when you have found or spotted a lost parrot.

Have Any Other Tips For Your Fellow Parrot Owners?

Share in the comments below!