Captive parrots who want to be free

[Thingamagigs]

Has anyone ever had the feeling that their bird is not happy with a captive life?

I have never felt that way with any bird I have ever owned, until now.
Every other bird I have owned has seemed happy with life and everything I can provide them with no sense of longing for something else. Mana loves her captive life and I have never had any kind of feeling she would prefer to be "free". Even my not very well handreared pair of conures seem happy with captive life and everything it involves.

I brought home a corella 10 days ago, he is handreared (though not very well)... he was not socialised or acclimatised to new things by his handrearer... not one bit. He has regressed and has been begging for food but is now eating soaked pellets on his own and happily eating seed. He is such a sweet love, soaking up all the love and attention we can give.
But I get this overwhelming feeling from him that he is not happy being "captive", not that he doesn't love humans, but that he wants to be flying free. He has an open leg band and I am pondering whether he is a wild caught bird. I have never got this feeling from a pet bird before.
I feel so sad for him. I have such a heavy heart and such guilt. He is adorable, he snuggles and plays on his back and loves attention and physical contact. Its not that he isn't comfortable with humans... there is just something else, like a longing for him to be out there living like a corella.
I am going to get him used to flying with a harness... so that is one step closer to him being "free" but I still feel its not enough.

Has anyone else felt this way about a bird they have owned or someone elses bird they have met?
What gave you that impression/feeling?
Did they enjoy human contact the way my corella does?
What if anything was the end result, did they remain sociable while captive or were they ultimately released or allowed to come and go as they please?

I am certain if I allowed him the freedom to come and go as he pleased he eventually would not return. Its both heartbreaking and understandable.

 

[aliray]

I think you may be in a different place than a lot of us in the States are. Where you are the wild Corelas are native but here in the USA that is not true. There are a few species that have escaped and formed breeding colonies but they are not native to the Usa. There is a member who free flights her u2 but She lives on a 25 acre property in the ou be I think is entirely different. Just give him time to bond withut I can Understand you feel

 

[aliray]

Good grief remind me to spell check next time. My only excuse is Tiki is on my shoulder and keeps giving me kisses and grabbing my glasses

 

[sodakat]

I'm not grasping where you see a problem or what he's doing that makes you think he'd rather be "free".

I had a struggle in 2009 when my pair produced chicks because I became aware of how enriched their lives were when they could behave the way nature intended. It influenced me to provide a large dedicated area in my home that could be their bird room, and finally last summer I constructed an attached outdoor aviary.

So, my musings aimed me towards letting the Eclectus who live with me have lives where they could know they are birds, as much as living in captivity allows, of course.

I don't think sitting alone in a cage all day is good for any bird. So if we have the choice between that and "freedom" then of course they would rather be free, IMO.

 

[henpecked]

i guess i've given it some thought. Would she be happy free? Then a hawk,eagle, buzzard, bummble bee, flies by and she crawls up under my neck. No i think the crueliest thing in the world would be to separate her from the one she loves and her flock. Birds with open bands are not harvested as adults.They don't have their flock to teach them how to survive. Pet birds who escape are doomed unless a flock of feral birds accept them. After breeding parrots ,i've learned, they are happiest with their mate and lost without one. It would be so simple if you could release a parrot and it survive, but that's not the reality. Like the signature says " we are forever responsible for what we have tamed".

 

[kc_y0]

I get that feeling about Audrey as well. I know she loves me, and shes always chasing me around, but I see her looking out the window and watching the other birds really intently and she starts flapping a little bit, it always makes me think she wishes she could be out there with them.

 

[goalerjones]

Problem is that they probably wouldn't survive the outdoors. Foraging, proper food identification, shelter, predator recognition and awareness.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Just to be clear, I am not considering "releasing" my bird LOL
His wings are clipped. Birds his age would still be with their family group learning how to be birds, without this essential learning, being free is a death sentence. I don't think his desire to fly is worth the risk to his life and I love my birds!

The furthest I got along any such line of thought was training him free flight... but I concluded he is not a good candidate for that.

He certainly doesn't spend all day sitting in a cage! I have parrot proofed the living area (as much as you can without having entirely stainless steel everything LOL) and the birds are out the entire time I am home There is someone home pretty much every day. In fact my entire living area is really set up with them in mind, with various play stands which dominate the lounge room. The front room is where the cages are kept for sleeping. Working on the enclosed patio as well

Because this is my first experience of this I am merely curious about others experiences.

Aliray... our house backs onto national park. We have a large local wild population of both little corellas and long billed corellas. Though that doesn't make me feel any better about the idea of free flying him. I really do get the feeling he wouldn't come back.

Sodakat... there is no problem. LOL Its funny that people will often assume there is a problem when someone shares something thats been weighing on their mind.
Wanting to fly out in the open, in the 'wild', is natural and certainly isn't a problem. Unless you are human. But then again I do wish I could fly. lol
This is simply the first time I have experienced a bird that actually seems to want freedom. And I feel guilty that I'm being selfish by keeping him as a pet. It's hard to define exactly what it is that gives me that sense. Humans put labels on everything because we rely on verbal communication. But animals communicate in much more subtle ways. Not everything can have a label assigned to it Those who intently watch their pets body language will know what I mean. My corella (I still cant come up with a name! lol) for example puts his foot out and opens and closes his foot when he wants me to come over and get him. He will even lead me to something he wants by getting my attention and then walking to it and beaking it or just looking at it.

Henpecked... its actually illegal here to take birds from nests... but they still do it. Its a quick and easy way for dishonest people to make money. Open bands are pretty much unheard of on handreared birds so its really strange that this guy has an open band. He was supposedly raised from 2weeks onward, thats definitely young enough to have a closed band put on. There is a seller at markets up here that catches wild cockatoos as adults and sells them at the markets as hand tamed babies! Actually, thinking about it now I should have got a receipt for this bird.

Kc_y0... thats something my corella does as well. His favourite spot is on the large play stand at the large glass door that opens up to the patio. From there he can see the entire yard. He watches the magpie larks and willy wagtails, he looks like he is taking note of every action LOL. If Mana sees them however LOL she doesn't look longingly at them... she screams at them... wings up, crest up, screaming her disapproval of their intrusion into her territory. She runs back and forth at the window and puts on her angry voice. I have video I must upload it, she is so funny.
But yeah, that feeling you get when you see Audrey watching the wild birds, thats the feeling I mentioned... he has definitely taken to me really quickly but there is just this core to him that wants to fly free. They don't have a concept of what it is to live and struggle in the wild... they don't think that far in advance, just the instinct to fly free. It's hard to weigh up exactly how much that means to them when we ourselves have never had any hope of taking to the sky on wings.

Goalerjones... indeed. Pet birds do often escape and even pair up and raise babies. I assume they are mostly aviary or possibly parent raised birds though.

 

[LoveMyParrots]

I don't have the feeling with Ozzie. He loves me, and he wish that he can be by my side every single second! He also loves to be outside in the harness so he can get some fresh air, and watch the other birds. But he would rather choose to cuddle me than to be outside. It might change when he is older, because he is only 4.5 months old, he is still relying on me on most things.

On the other side, I once had a wild tame female galah a few years ago. She fall out of her nest at only 2 weeks old, broked her wings, and has damaged her chest and heart. The vet said she can no longer fly and must be hand raised to survive, so the animal rescue hand rasied her. I got her when she was at 15 weeks, the animal rescue warned me that she might only be able survive for a few years, but i still adopted and I named her Sky. The reason for that is she has always hoped that she can be a wild galah. Every day, she spend most of her time looking out her cage at the wild galahs and cockatoos happily searching for food in my backyard. Sky never touched her toys, she would just spend her whole day looking at the other birds outside. She has always hoped that she can fly like the others and do what a parrot are born to do, she tried again and again, but every time the result was the same. She would fell straight onto the ground. Her dreams never come true.

1 year later, Sky passed away. I was so sad, I just lost my best friend. I cried while flicking through photos I've took in that short year with her. I will never forget Sky, all the wonderful moments we've made together will stay in my heart forever...

 

[Kiwibird]

I think deep down every parrot would prefer to be living in their natural habitat, with a huge flock around them and participating their natural behaviors every day. However, those brought up in captivity and the aging generation of wild-caughts have lost their ability to survive in the wild, and it's our job as their carers to make their experience in a domestic home as best as possible. Simulating their natural habitats, social structures and daily activities to the best of our abilities is the best we can do for them. Some do just fine with that, and others will always struggle. My parents female DYH was wild-captured as an adult bird to be used as a breeder (actually, the only reason my mom bought her was to save her from that life). Even after 40 years in captivity, she has never really lost the wild in her. She is still very different personality-wise than their other 2 similarly aged captive breds, and a world away from my BFA, who is probably a few generations out of the wild.

Personally, I try to give Kiwi as close to a "wild" experience as he can have. He doesn't get drilled with training (stepping up is all we've ever trained him to do), and gets to explore his environment/interact with us on his own terms. He is never stuck in his cage while his "flock" is at home, he gets to participate in almost every activity we do (meals, showers, watching me clean, general hanging out ect...). When we aren't home, he has lots of things to forage, destroy and plenty of different "surfaces" (perches, platforms, those hanging rope things) to climb on in his cage. I also like to keep a tropical decor in my house, with lots of bird safe/fake plants, parrot decorations and posters of rainforest/tropics scenes for him to look at, things he would see every day in nature. And while I'm not sure how much exactly it matters to him, but I still like to keep things bright and airy for him (lots of green and blue and bright orange) instead of those homes with dark wood and deep reds everywhere that must feel like a cave for a parrot. I'm sure he still wants to be in the rainforest where he belongs, but since that isn't possible, I do my best to "bring the rainforest home" for him

 

[JerseyWendy]

I get that feeling about Audrey as well. I know she loves me, and shes always chasing me around, but I see her looking out the window and watching the other birds really intently and she starts flapping a little bit, it always makes me think she wishes she could be out there with them.

Nah, Casey, Audrey is VERY happy with you. Her looking out the window longingly is like me watching a movie with a hot guy to drool over.

 

[BeakersBro]

I wouldn't let him free. He would probly die. Even if he was cought in the wild, if you let him go now, he's not going to survive because the environment is different and he has been in captivity so long he won't know how to survive

 

[NWQuakers]

I think parrots are complex critters, like humans, and have differing levels of 'wild' instinct.

My red lory loved looking at wild birds through the window, but being outside in nature creeped her out. Some of my favorite memories of her are nudging her to step off my hand onto grass or a tree branch. She would put one foot on the natural surface, then stand there with the other foot in the air, not even wanting to touch with the other foot at all.
When I did get her to be outside, bugs bothered her, and she would try to move leaves out of her way like a human moving some trash off a park bench. The whole vibe was 'icky!'.

And my #1 quaker loved being outdoors with me. Liked watching birds. Peeped to the baby finches I used to raise. But flying - oh hell no! When her wings were grown out I'd launch her across the room to her cage, and she'd land on it and give me a look like I was trying to kill her. SHe got out loose one afternoon and hunkered down in what must have been the first tree she hit until morning, then squawked until we spotted & rescued her. No attempt at flying further.

 

[sodakat]

I really wasn't saying there was a "problem". Sorry if I didn't make myself clear. I am merely wondering what behavior or actions made you think he wanted to be free, that's all. I'm just curious.

 

[kc_y0]

I get that feeling about Audrey as well. I know she loves me, and shes always chasing me around, but I see her looking out the window and watching the other birds really intently and she starts flapping a little bit, it always makes me think she wishes she could be out there with them.

Nah, Casey, Audrey is VERY happy with you. Her looking out the window longingly is like me watching a movie with a hot guy to drool over.

Hahahahaha oh Wendy, you could be right! Maybe she thinks the birds outside are handsome

 

[Thingamagigs]

The funny thing is, someone mentioned something similar in a thread a while back, before I had experienced a bird that seemed to have some sort of longing for freedom. And I said something along the lines of humans aren't even free... at least birds in captivity are safe and never have to know the struggle of being wild.... they don't long for something they have never known. LOL
I can't say I know where he has come from and what experience he has, but he certainly seems to prove I was wrong about the last part. And now I understand the guilt others have felt.

I wouldn't let him free. He would probly die. Even if he was cought in the wild, if you let him go now, he's not going to survive because the environment is different and he has been in captivity so long he won't know how to survive

LOL You haven't caught up on the entire thread yet hey?

Lovemyparrots... thats so sad Its great that you gave her a beautiful home for that little time anyway. I wish all states would allow carers to find homes for animals that can't be released... in most states they have to be destroyed. Victoria only very recently changed their laws to the same as other states. I think South Australia is the last state where carers can find pet homes for animals that cant be released.

Kiwibird... sounds like you do the same thing I do!! lol I have trouble finding commercial toys that work with what I want for my birds so I started making my own in natural colours to simulate wild fruits and flowers and leaves. Most commercial toys are a mishmash of bright colours in a rainbow like pattern, I think they are ugly and unnatural looking.
I have made all my own perches and play stands out of natural native woods... so their main play stands are made out of paperbark... not only is it a natural roosting tree for them in the wild, but they love pulling the bark off and making the most dramatic mess all over the living areas LOL They get eucalyptus branches when I can get away with snipping some off in the local park LOL They make great toys!
And the food bowls similar colours to fruit or flowers they might snack on in the wild. They have play stands by the windows as well. A play rug and hopefully soon they will have their outdoor room. I am probably just being pedantic about the colours but its a theory I am willing to run with lol

NWquakers... I completely agree!! It really threw me that he is so loving and sweet and yet he seems to want freedom. Though at the same time, he does seem a lot more intelligent or analytical than any bird I have ever owned as well. I have a harness for him, so hopefully he will find some joy in going on adventures into the local park with me.

Sodakat... I guess its a body language thing thats really hard to explain.

JerseyWendy... ROFL!! That explains everything, I can completely relate

 

[Kiwibird]

Thingamagigs- Wow! You really go all out with your birds! Glad I'm not the only one who feels they benefit from little reminders of home. We live thousands of miles away from Kiwi's natural home, so he gets local bird safe woods (manzanita is the best, you can make the greatest play trees and branches from the stuff!). I keep his play tree by the biggest window, and right next to it, I have a "mini-forest" where I have loads of tropical potted plants and he really seems to love being over there (though he can't reach the plants from his tree, I don't want him destroying them even if they are non toxic). I cant be 100% sure, but deep down, I do feel parrots notice and care about the colors and decorations around them.

 

[Karigan]

I can just see my boy waddling out into the forest looking for a bowl of mash...

 

[dragonlady2]

My response is based on a Robin I "rescued" a few years back. As soon as we take a bird out of its' natural element, we have altered their "wiring", IMO. Although, instinctually they may have innate desires to fly freely outdoors, be with other birds etc, how they understand these desires is affected by their early beginnings, not unlike children. I found a baby robin under our pine tree a few years back and knew the neighbourhood cats would find him easy prey. Couldn't put him back in his nest (too high up) so I moved him to an abandoned nest on our front porch. He kept jumping out and when I went to check in the evening, he was on my front porch. To make a long story short...brought him in, fed him, tried releasing but no adult robins were taking care of him. I went in the backyard and it flew down to me at the end of the day. I fed him as he was starving but did not take him in. He flew to the pine tree and there he would sit until I came out. I provided food on a shelf we put up on the porch. If I went out to the pool, he would fly to the trees there until I went back to the house. If I sat on the swing on the back porch, he would fly to the top of the swing and sit there until I left. The point is, he could have left at any time, but didn't due to probably imprinting. Not sure, but I think a neighbourhood cat might have got him as he didn't show up one day. Animals, including birds, make accommodations to what is present in their world, JMO. I see my birds when they are caged and feel the same way, poor babies stuck in an unnatural world, but I can also accept they could have had a fate worse than being cared for by me in the largest cages I can find for them, daily fresh fruits and veggies, sprouts, pellets, toys etc.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Helena,
I do wildlife rehabilitation for native song birds, and I can honestly tell you I've NEVER had a problem with "imprinting".

Here are some pictures of 2 Blue Jays I raised. They were cute as pie and VERY smart, however, they never "bonded" to me - they simply looked at me as a food source until I taught them to eat on their own.








Yes, they were outside once they attempted to fly They would stay in an enclosure during the night, but during the day they were out and about.

There is VERY little handling involved when raising wild birds, and it's quite a chore, too.