I had visitors last weekend who were messing with the birds. The next morning I noticed that one of my masked lovebirds was missing. The flight cage door was not securely fastened.
I spent much of the day looking over, under and behind everything in the house. Even the frig. Found nothing but unspeakable amounts of dust. No trace if it. I didn't think it could have gotten outside.
I guessed it had flown into a window and killed itself but put food and water atop the cage just in case. No sign of the corpse though.
The prodigal returned!!! This after 5 days of hiding somewhere.
I was on the patio chatting on the phone and got a glimpse of the missing lovebird flying across the living room. It sat on the cage top but I couldn't catch it. So, I put fresh food and water in dishes atop the cage to keep it alive until I could net it. It ate avidly.
Then it got frustrating but humorous. With my bird net in one hand and the large pond skimming net in the other it led me on a merry chase back and forth from one end of the house to the other. I finally cornered it and tired it out sufficiently that I was able to net it.
Now the lovebirds are adjusting to the changed circumstances. Warily looking at each other wondering if this new guy is one of us.
Prodigal lovie returns!!
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- 3 Eggs Laid
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Re: Prodigal lovie returns!!
Wow, Great news!
Have a friend who lost a parakeet in the house. They figured it got out or dog or cat got it, as they couldn't find it anywhere. A week later, she went up into the attic to get something, and found it up in there. No idea how it got there.
Have a friend who lost a parakeet in the house. They figured it got out or dog or cat got it, as they couldn't find it anywhere. A week later, she went up into the attic to get something, and found it up in there. No idea how it got there.
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- 3 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:26 pm
- Location: Tempe arizona
Re: Prodigal lovie returns!!
Part of the mystery is that there was food and water out for it but no indication of either having been touched. Food I can understand but this is a very dry climate and I thought it would dehydrate in a day or two. Tough little bugger.
Also not a peep to be heard during this time.
My guess is that it injured itself, found a hiding place that I couldn't find and finally emerged.
Also not a peep to be heard during this time.
My guess is that it injured itself, found a hiding place that I couldn't find and finally emerged.
- 30 Seconds to Bob
- Weaning
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- Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:12 pm
- Location: west central florida
Re: Prodigal lovie returns!!
My first thought was "I wonder what it ate and drank"? Glad that you got it back. I once lost a conure (outside) for three days and got it back. I would watch it feed on pine cones and palm seeds very high up in the trees. Eventually, it flew down to me and landed at my feet. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife
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- Proven
- Posts: 2112
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- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Prodigal lovie returns!!
Sorry but I had to have a good chuckle at this!! Glad you found himThen it got frustrating but humorous. With my bird net in one hand and the large pond skimming net in the other it led me on a merry chase back and forth from one end of the house to the other. I finally cornered it and tired it out sufficiently that I was able to net it.

Roxanne
Gouldian's, Blue Breasted Cordon Bleu's, Orange-cheeks, Violet-eared, Black-cheeked waxbill's and Peter's Twinspots
Gouldian's, Blue Breasted Cordon Bleu's, Orange-cheeks, Violet-eared, Black-cheeked waxbill's and Peter's Twinspots
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- Bird Brain
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Re: Prodigal lovie returns!!
Wow, so glad you got him back 

Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56