Having Mixed Feelings About Capturing Budgie

[30 Seconds to Bob]

After two excursion attempts to capture the loose budgie, I find myself wrestling with some moral issues about doing it.
I've gotten close enough to this bird enough times to honestly think that I can catch it with a long handled net. (I've had plenty of practice on my free flying javas) The issues I'm having are "should I"? This bird has obviously had a taste of freedom for who knows how long, and what justice would I be doing by putting him in a cage? When startled, he will take off and fly in thousand foot circles a hundred feet up in the sky. What cage can give him that excitement? I know that none of mine can.
He's on an island a mile out in the Gulf of Mexico where it will probably never freeze. He has a food source consisting of wild oats, palm seeds, and several flower varieties, both wild and cultivated. There is a picnic shelter and an opened-top restroom where he can enter in inclement weather. If he choses to, he can head south (as I've read escaped birds often do) to Miami, the keys, Cuba, the Bahamas, or South America. The sky's the limit for him.
I know that he doesn't belong here and he may be snuffed out by a predator at any time, but if you were him would you trade that for being in a cage? Thoughts? Bob

[Sunbay]

He is obviously thriving where he is. Although we don't need anymore 'invasive' species - I would lean towards just leaving him/her be.

[Rox]

Bob, if you feel he can survive where he is and you want to leave him be, then it is totally up to you. Good luck with whichever decision you make. Either way, we all know you have the birds best interest at heart

[paul-inAZ]

My original thought was to leave him alone.
I know and respect the arguments against feral foreign species but in this case he will not present any danger to native species, damage crops or be any threat to humans. He is not a constrictor or some other non-native predator.
I still say let him enjoy his freedom.

[Angela&Shalamar]

on the other hand all it would take is one escaped female to propagate a non native species problem

[Ginene]

I would let him remain free too...Once a bird tastes freedom it almost seems cruel to put him back into a cage. Honestly Bob...I worry about him bringing some illness into your home and possibly getting your existing flock sick. But then again, I am a big time worrier when it comes to things like this...I just wanted to mention it to you .

[wellingtoncdm]

On the other side of things I cannot count how many times cardinals and other wild birds beg to get into my aviary. I even hung a ball valve water bottle on the outside for them to use. There is a certain security that caged birds get: shelter, food, water and protection from predators. I had a local grain store deliver me an escaped parakeet last year that was weak and run down and had a bad yeast infection from its life of freedom. I can see both sides.

[cindy]

Bob, I look around the area you and I live in....there is such a variety of domesticated birds living in the wild. They have adapted, especially the hookbills. I see even the bright blue quakers doing well here.

When my daughters went to high school and middle school on the same campus we could drive through and see the quakers lining the fence and electrical wires.

I would be concerned with some diseases they can contract from wild birds or domestic hookbills that they have come in contact with if lucky enough to get into a flock.

He seems happy, knows how to find food and is on an island, how lucky is he!!! The world is his aviary!!!!!

You have a good heart for thinking of what is in his best interest.

[monotwine]

Although freedom is lots of open space to fly. It comes at a steep price. A wild bird does not think freedom of flight it thinks only of sustaining its energy needs, shelter from weather and escape from predators. If this is a bird born in the wild Id leave it, but chances are its a fresh escapee.
Although you know there are food sources and shelter available, does it? Does it recognise those sources or expect a meal to be fed. By the sounds of how tame it is Id still bet its a pet and recently escaped.

So by now you can imagine my thoughts would be to catch it. If you cannot find the owner, rehome it then you may have to keep it. In that case full quarantine is recommended. Just because it cannot get big blue sky to fly in does not mean its worse off.
JMO

[DanteD716]

Although freedom is lots of open space to fly. It comes at a steep price. A wild bird does not think freedom of flight it thinks only of sustaining its energy needs, shelter from weather and escape from predators. If this is a bird born in the wild Id leave it, but chances are its a fresh escapee.
Although you know there are food sources and shelter available, does it? Does it recognise those sources or expect a meal to be fed. By the sounds of how tame it is Id still bet its a pet and recently escaped.

So by now you can imagine my thoughts would be to catch it. If you cannot find the owner, rehome it then you may have to keep it. In that case full quarantine is recommended. Just because it cannot get big blue sky to fly in does not mean its worse off.
JMO

I couldn't agree more.

[30 Seconds to Bob]

Charlie, The cardinals and other wild birds probably want in because they see and hear your captive birds feeding. Just like the crows want in my screened garage because they know there's cat food in there.
Do you think they'd be so anxious to enter if they knew they could never come back out?

Monotwine, Did you see the pics in my other post of the budgie feeding? In case you didn't.......






I also watched him eat immature palm seeds in a cabbage palm tree. I placed piles of budgie seed an millet sprays under him on three different occasions as he watched him look at it as I backed away. They all sat untouched for over two hours. This bird is NOT starving. There are wild beach sunflowers, marigolds and various fountain grasses for him to eat. There is a bird bath, several showers and water fountains.
If he were sickly looking, it would be a no brainer - I'd catch him. My gut feeling is that this bird would hate to be put back in a cage. I think that if my options were to live to 100 in jail, or live to 75 free, I'd chose the latter. JMO. Bob

[wellingtoncdm]

You may be right Bob. There are hundreds of non native birds, reptiles animals and plants all thriving and loving our wonderful state. It's great that you took the time to check on him and make sure he's ok.

[cindy]

That is great you left some food for him...wonder how long he has been living on the island.

[fhgwgads]

30 Seconds to Bob to me he looks to be happy and healthy. I completely understand your feelings on this.. but he just looks so happy. He may have been a pet which is why you were able to get relatively close to him and maybe he is used to humans which is why he didn't fly off right away. But as mentioned I would hate for him to be stuck in a cage and possibly become depressed and unhappy. You do have a heart of gold and it's hard to wrestle with what to do but keep in mind the little guy doesn't understand human intentions. I would maybe just keep an eye on him and enjoy his presence and maybe continue to provide snacks. But he seems to have adapted so far. Best of luck with your decision!

[Zebrafincher]

I guess the thing I'd say is that this bird is very brightly colored, and will not likely last long in the wild. It doesn't have a flock to give it some protection, so likely a hawk or eagle will get it. Freedom is a human concept, and birds needs flight and exercise, but they don't seem to have the same issues we do in this area apart from needing companionship, food, water and other caring. I guess its up to you as to what needs to be done.