How to Recover a Lost Quaker Parrot
by Mattie Sue Athan
Every year, we hear from a number of people with Quaker Parrots that have flown away. Mattie Sue Athan has assisted with many escaped parrot recoveries and is considered an expert on this topic. Here she offers step-by-step advice for the owner of a lost parrot. We have seen many recoveries of lost birds when owners follow this advice.
Question: My Quaker Parrot flew away. What are a handfed Quaker’s chances of survival? And what can I do to get it back?
Answer:
Accidental escape is one of the most common tragedies to befall the companion Quaker parrot. In the past this represented a danger to the environment because wild-caught Quakers could survive easily in the wild. However, an escaped handfed Quaker’s chances of survival are not especially good, especially in areas where there is raptor activity. Fortunately, handfed Quakers know where “their bread is buttered”. In my 20+ years of experience recapturing Quakers in urban settings, I see that handfed Quakers usually find accommodating humans and “adopt” them, usually within the first 24 hours of escape. For this reason, I expect a handfed Quaker recapture to primarily be a public relations project. If you don’t know where the bird is, you must advertise to find it.
Typically, the bird is returned by humans who have been caring for it as soon as they see the advertising. Call the local newspapers, the humane societies, animal control, local bird dealers, avian veterinarians, groomers, and recapture services. Be sure to report your lost “property” to the police. If the bird is found and the people holding the bird won’t relinquish it, the police may intervene. You must be able to prove ownership, possibly with a recorded band number, registered DNA configuration, micro-chipping or by identifying physical or behavioral anomalies in the bird.
Place ads in the local newspapers, on church and grocery store bulletin boards. Make a flyer with a photo or a reasonable likeness of a Quaker. Prepare an 8-1/2 x 11 inch white original so that it can be easily copied on to brightly colored paper. The flyer should also contain a contact phone number, if possible, and alternative contact phone number, such as a pager, and the street corner or local landmark nearest to where the bird flew away. The flyer should mention small rewards available for information leading to the location of the bird and a more sizable reward for the return of the bird. It’s a good idea to minimize the value of the bird, possibly, in the case of the Quaker Parrot, mentioning that the bird is noisy or of less-than-perfect disposition. Identifying characteristics may be mentioned, such as missing toe or banding on a particular leg.
Talk to everyone you see, and make lots of flyers to just hand to people. Use a different color each time the flyer is reprinted. If the recapture process lasts a while, the signs may have to be occasionally reposted after bad weather, and a new color will help people to understand that the search is still “fresh”, and they should call if they see the bird. Don’t forget to take your flyers down immediately upon recovering the bird. It’s only polite, and in some places you may be fined if you do not take them down.
During late summer or early fall, there may be sufficient ripe fruits to sustain the bird wild for a while. In the case of a true “recapture” wherein we know where the bird is, a handfed bird will usually come willingly to the beloved owner. Expect a really good flyer to fly down. Expect a poor flyer to climb down. It’s easier to lure a Quaker parrot with jealousy (have the favorite person stand hugging the most hated person) than with food.
Don’t give up. Keep looking. A bird doesn’t usually just disappear. Somebody has it or somebody has seen it, or they will see it soon.
A friend told me that he lost a pair of Quakers in northern Colorado on the 4th of July in about 1985. Exactly one year later, also on July 4th, he was contacted by a neighbor who reported that he had captured the birds in his hen house. There had been no reported sightings of the birds in this rural setting for that entire year.
Wild-caught or poorly socialized Quakers might have to be trapped. Trapping instructions for Quaker Parrots may be found on page 81-82 of Guide to the Quaker Parrot.
Mattie Sue Athan has been a companion parrot behavior consultant since 1978. During that time she has averaged two to three new Quaker clients per week. Her first book, Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot, is an industry standard. Her second book, Guide to the Quaker Parrot, sold out the first printing in 5 months. She also wrote Guide to the Senegal Parrot and Its Family and Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior.
Email: msathan@aol.com
A Quaker Parrot walked on to my daughters Patio last night during a Bar-B-Q.
I have it now. Rapid City, SD.
Walked the neighborhood and asked and no one knows. Very friendly loves my husband not to fond of kids.
Has a red ring on it’s ankle. Baby around 2 years old. Green /blue. Hasn’t talked at all.
Hi i lost my quaker parrot on may 15 is a green color her name is ramona has a ring on it’s ankle is very sweet pls help me i live in nc. But very close to sc pls help meses i miss my parrot
My quaker parrot flew out a window in lamp lighter park North Conway NH. Her name is chewy, she is green she talks some and likes people food. If you find her please email me. (ang.jope@gmail.com)
Angela
My quaker escaped from her cage last night. She is blue with a grey chest. She has a limp due to breaking her leg as a baby. She can say a few words, laugh and whistle. She comes to her name which is Willow. I’m from Greenwith in Adelaide, South Australia, and although a long shot, I thought I’d leave a message just incase. To all aussies, if you have her or find her, PLEASE email me at melissah.emily@hotmail.com.
Thankyou
I found a Quaker Parrot in Plantation, FL on June 3, 2011 at approximately 7:00 p.m. I am still searching for the owner. This bird is not banded, it doesn’t talk, but he makes lots of noises and barks like a small dog.
A very friendly Quaker landed on me last night while out walking in the Casselberry (Red Bug Lake Rd), FL area. Obviously hand reared and trained, quite safe where he/she is with us but we would like to find the owner.
June 25, 2011–Found green quaker parrot. Hollywood, Fl area
I have a blue Quaker whose name is Bella. Shes plays peek a boo, speaks some words such as mama, hello, pretty girl, pretty bird, Good girl, laughs like people, whistles as if calling a dog and growls like a dog. We are in stock bridge Georgia. Please email me if you find her. Shes part of our family and we have had her more than 2 years and got her at 6 months old. Shes my kids companion. If you find her please email us.
Wow. After 3 days of hollering for Bella, playing her favorite game*peek-a-boo* and teasing her with food to come back…we finally got her back!!! There is a huge cluster of tress behind our house dividing our back yard from the neighbors on the next street. We went out this morning and heard her very close as if she were right off the balcony, although we couldn’t see her. So my oldest daughter (bellas best friend) ran to the other street and went in their back yard as i stood there trying to make her jealous by playing with her toy, digging in her food threw the walkie talkie etc, and teasing her with pizza crust. My oldest kid finally spotted her trying to climb down to her. She kept talking to her while i sent my youngest daughter to the other street with her bowl of food so she could show it to her and she came right down. We are so happy. DONT GIVE UP if you live by trees, she stayed in ear shot of our voices for three days and finally came back when she got hungry enough
She seems a little traumatized though, if birds can even get traumatized? She shivered for the first few hours back in the house and absolutely refused to come out of her cage, held on for dear life when i tried to make her. Is there anything i should be concerned about?
IM SO HURT MY QUAKER PARROT FLEW AWAY THE WIND KNOCED THE CAGE DOWN,I LIVE AT HOLIDAYS HIEGHTS, IN BRADENTON FLORIDA 34207/ MY PHONE #941-580-1928/I CANT AFFORD TO PAY FOR HIS RETURN BUT I CAN CLEAN YOUR HOUSE OR CAR OR DO SOME YARD WORK,HIS NAME IS PUTTY HE TALKS AND HE LOVES BATHS,HE IS VERY SPECIAL AND WE LOVE HIM.IM LOOKING FOR HIM AND I GO AROUND MY NEIGBORHOOD CALLING HIS NAME BUT I DO NOT SEE HIM ANY MORE,BUT I WILL NOTGIVE UP.MY PHONE#941-580-1928 AND I LIVE AT HOLLIDAYS HEIGHTS IN BRADENTON, FL. THANK YOU YANIE
hello, My friend found a green Quaker Parrot in the grass that he was mowing. It was found Oct. 4,2011 in Greeley, Colorado. My friend kept it at his workplace all day in a box, asking if anyone knew where the bird belongs. No inquiries. My friend knows how much I loved and miss my old Quaker, so he called me and delivered our new bundle of joy to our home, knowing that the little bird would have a great and loving home with us. I have checked the daily newspaper every day and no one is looking for a bird. We love him already, but I also know that it is very, very hard to loose your baby. We hope that we wont be contacted by anyone claiming to own it, but we also want to do the right thing…. Has anyone lost their little green bird?? If not, just know he is loved, and well cared for, and shown lots of attention at our house…. Thanks
My quaker parrot also flew away last sunday. She is my baby and her name is Oscar this happen in Pahrump NV, Please call 775-513-2819
Janice:
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November 11, 2011 at 9:42 am
My friend lost a green quaker with missing toes on the one foot. she is very much loved and missed. My friend had me birdsitting her and went to take her home and she managed to escape the cage. She flew all around the neighborhood with 4 of us chasing her. This was last year at the end of summer. I keep looking for her every time that I go walking in the neighborhood. We live in Baltimore, MD. If anyone has seen her or has her, my friend was totally devastated by this, please let us know. Her name is Lucky. There is a reward. Please call 410 529 1953
This is to Bonnie that found the quaker that barks like a dog (in Fl in June). I lost my quaker Lucky, two years ago in MD, I don’t know that she could make it that far, but she did bark and made other noises, but did not talk. She had no band and was missing toes on one foot. Just checking to see if this might be her. Thanks. (I just found out about this website). Reward. 410-926-8008
Hi – We lost our green parrot in Barrington, RI on Nov 27th. Please let me know if you see or hear him. He is Green with a little blue on the back of his wings.
Hello, I live in LUTZ / LAND O’ LAKES FL,
Our Green Quaker Parrot flew away this morning. We are desperate to find him, he responds to Midori and is tagged, We live in the Oak Grove area near SR 54. This parrot is a family member of ours and is very dear to us, we have had him for 8 years. If anyone finds him PLEASE call me, I will be prepared to pay a reward for his safe return to our family. Thank you
(813) 385-7044
BONNIE,
My Quaker parrots flew away in tampa florida. Used to bark like a little dog and could talk BUT Spanish words only !!! So if you don’t mind saying HOLA CuCa (CuCa was what we called her) she used to know only one song in English called “prr what happened to that boy” by bird mane (only the prr what happened to that boy chorus) please reply !! I need to know.
My love birds both escaped one summer. All I did was follow them as much as I could with their huge cage with me. If I saw them stopping to eat wild bird food, I would scare them off thinking that if they were hungry they would come back. As night started to come I was giving up running around and as I started home, the birds started to follow me as I had their cage. Soon enough I got home and put the cage exactly back where it had falled from and both birds came back. Truly amazing. They were very hungry and I guess I am a good cook.
Judy
We live in Saint Pete Beach and lost our green Quaker Emerald while moving her cage last night . She says pretty bird, Frankie, kisses, hello, peek-a-boo, whistles,and many other works. She responds to Emerald Cmon with your finger out and will land on. She is a family pet that is loved very much. She has a bald chest but is very loveable.
Our quaker flew away last night from our house in Sunrise. His name is Chili and he is about 8 months to a year old. He does not speak at all and responds to whistles and laughs. He likes to land on peoples heads and is very friendly. My fiance is devistated and I feel terrible since it’s my fault he got out. If anyone finds a green quaker in the Sunrise or Plantation area, please call me. Reward if found!!!! He is very noisy and usually squawks when he lands. 305-525-4245, Greg. Thank you.
My Mothers Quaker parrot bird flew away Monday afternoon, His name is Tigi he has a very large vocabulary, loves to sit on your shoulder and loves to give kisses. My mother lives in South Georgia, Not sure where he could fly too or how far, This pet is my mothers life, Please if you happen to find him, locate him reward is offered. Please call 334-805-3253, my number and I can identify him. Thanks so much He may be in the North Florida area tallahassee or even Havanna Florida.
Quaker parrot (green) found in Delaware and has silver band on right foot. Found April 5, 2012. Is very sweet and friendly. Email if this could be yours and can id band.
Dressage72@aol.com
Today my quaker, Pippin, got out of his cage and flew to some high trees in a neighbors yard. My husband and I could hear him and was able to locate our bird. He stayed right on the same branch for one hour. We tempted him with cookies and popcorn. I think it was his little sleeping hut that lured him back when I pretended to feed another bird inside. He quickly landed on my head. I scooped him up and kept him under my chin as I brought him inside. He did not move a bit and stayed there cuddling with me on our sofa safely inside for another hour. I thought this might help others. Don”t give up.
This is six years late but I was not aware of this website.
Found Quaker Parrot, Glendale/Phoenix, AZ, 6-2006 or 2005 (cannot remember) This Quaker is now 26 years old and originally from another state according to silver band on leg. I would love to find her owner. This Quaker is very smart and has a large vocabulary and is good at giving orders. LOL. We love her/him but would also love to find her owner. Thank you.
My Quaker parrot flew away today she is green with blue wing feather she might talk she loves to whistle. She flew from apartment 808 of the club in PCB Florida! Of you find her email me at davidurface@Gmail.com or call 850-691-3458
my name is nicole and i live in diamondhead ms and i have found a green quaker dont know if it is a boy or girl um found it in diamondhead on 5-11-12 if you lost your quaker and would like to have her/him back please call or tex me at 228*424*6781 i dont have a cage for it so i have it set up in my back yard cant bring it in the house dog dont like birds but he/she is ok but again please cintact me if this is your bird dont want anything to happen to it im a bird lover
thank you hope to hear from someone soon
A bird-watcher in DeKalb, Illinois spotted and rescued a Quaker in a tree on Thursday, May 10. He climbed 50 feet up the tree to rescue the bird, and since we have two Quakers the new bird ended up in our home.
The bird was definitely someone’s pet and we’d love to find the owner. We have put ads on Craigslist and contacted the local shelters and avian veterinarians.
Photo and contact information is in this photo:
http://www.cleggphoto.net/quaker.jpg
Curtis Clegg
Sycamore, Ill.