Is this what is meant by Free Flight?

[lpolliard]

did you find a Red Headed Parrot? (Laguna Hills)
Date: 2012-10-10, 5:03PM PDT
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If you found a red headed parrot in Laguna Hills.... That flys very well... please release him. He is a free flying parrot and he knows where home is.. Hes out every day and comes back periodically through the day for food and water and comes back to sleep at night. He hasnt checked in with me... so assuming someone captured him. Hes been in this freeflight environment for over a year now... So please release him so he can come home to his family or call me IF YOU HAVE HIM. thank u 7 14 3 6 6 6 7 0 2. Thank you!

What do you think of this?

So irresponsible...the bird would be lucky if someone took him in. More likely he was eaten.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

A member on this site has a umbrella cockatoo that lives in a similar way, although I'd never do this in a city if I was going to (very unlikely, I'm not willing to chance it)

 

[aliray]

You have to keep in mind that the member with the cockatoo owns I think 25 acers of land ,no offence, but way out in the boonies. For the average parrot I don't feel that it is safe and would not allow it. I know my three would be hawk snacks

 

[parrot14]

I would not dare to let my fids freely fly like that, but I would also hold my prejudice before knowing the whole story. Prabably the bird have been trained like this :TWO UNUSUAL BIRDS AND AN UNUSUAL OWNER - FBwiki

Eventhough I freefly my three parrots ( two conures and a CAG) I only let them fly within my sight...a small field, roaming arround my front yard, neighborhood etc

 

[baseballfanz]

Here's a free flight gone wrong
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKlxjZQUueQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]Tui parrot missing, flew away after bad advice from a birdtrick website - YouTube[/ame]

It's old so it might have been posted before.

 

[tab_xo]

Here's a free flight home wrong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKlxjZQUueQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's old so it might have been posted before.

that video had me in tears! so sad

 

[Mare Miller]

I do own that rogue cockatoo and live on 160 acres, in the middle of nowhere! I think that this bird would come home, if it was aloud to, especially since he's been free to do so for over a year now! Yikes! I would be devastated if someone kept my free flying bird against his will! All my neighbors know of Amigo and if he ever showed up there, I would get a call.

 

[Mare Miller]

Amigo has been flying freely for over two years, he knows his territory, he is learned about hawks, not saying that one couldn't take him out, just saying, he is very aware. I hope their bird comes back to them, safe.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Holy moly Mare!!
If I lived on 160 acres I would probably let my 'too have a fair bit of freedom as well. I know its not uncommon here in Aus for farmers etc to have a 'too pet who is 'free'. Though I wouldn't allow an exotic free reign, but its a different thing here in Aus being isolated, exotics pose a huge risk to our natives.

I don't like the idea of it in highly populated areas especially with a smaller bird. Large 'toos are much better at taking care of themselves and much less likely to be captured by well meaning bird lovers.

But I have just sectioned off my patio area with aviary netting and intend on increasing the size of the area to include more and more of my yard I'm pretty excited about the idea I love the idea of letting a bird be a bird but also having that extra protection or captivity.

I used to watch Tui all the time... and was so shocked when I found out she had gone missing. I hope to have an african grey eventually (in fact I may have a deposit down on one to pay off over the next few years!) and I know how it feels to have lost a very dearly loved bird. That guy loved his bird so much he was staying in America for it. <3

Ahhh and there's the Kookaburras cackling ... I love Australia and living across the road from parkland. (its 6:30pm here and we have trick or treaters coming and going)

 

[secuono]

Knowing all the predators that like to snack on birds, I'd never let any bird just roam free without security. Even my ground birds have 8 strands of hot wire and a LGD to keep them safe.
Owls, weasels, rats, other birds like crows, hawks, dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes, coons and many other critters waiting for a pretty little bird to make a mistake. And thats not listing any man made dangers.

 

[Mare Miller]

They are birds, they are wild creatures being held captive in our homes or aviaries. I, for one, am happy to know my bird flys freely. I realize all the risks involved and still accept them. My Goffin's, Sassy, would not do as well out there as Amigo, I know this, hence, therefore, she is doomed to be a forever house-bound bird.

 

[Mayden]

They are birds, they are wild creatures being held captive in our homes or aviaries. I, for one, am happy to know my bird flys freely. I realize all the risks involved and still accept them. My Goffin's, Sassy, would not do as well out there as Amigo, I know this, hence, therefore, she is doomed to be a forever house-bound bird.

Nice to see you back Mare

Ii'm on your side with this; I think it purely is an individual case. Amigo is so much happier with his free flight - if you try caging him now you'd probably have an aggressive plucker who's very unhappy with life!

Birds are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. If they're trained in free flight (and have been doing it for a long period of time) then I don't see why they shouldn't keep do it. There's a risk every time we have a window open, a dog or cat in the house. There's a risk with everything we do around our fids. Fids who free flight are better at aerial manurers than our fids who don't and so they're capable of getting away from predators.

Yes it's risky and yes heartbreak might happen - but at the same time, their fid is probably loving life so much having the great side of both free flight and having a loving owner with a cage, toys, awesome food, etc. I don't see why you should take that away from them, if their life is short, at least it's been a happy one.

If Merlin was better trained with flying outside, I'd let him out again in a heartbeat. He LOVED the ability to fly without restriction and REALLY fly, not just a flap in a room, to do full lengths of a football pitch and really work himself.

If someone has that 'zon, yes I think they should release it. But I also think the bird should be chipped, so taken to a vet, the owner contacted and double checked it's that persons 'zon and maybe a meet arranged instead.

I don't think all birds should be free flighted and some are quite happy in their homes without the need for free flight and some would just never stand a chance, or would do the recall. Which I also respect.

Merlin has the recall down, but he sucks at flying with wind and so can't get back to me so I wouldn't try training him again without at least aviating him up first.

Depends on the bird

 

[Mare Miller]

Yes, Mayden, not all pet birds are equipped for free flight. I felt Amigo was. If another U2 was brought home he/she would not be set free unless I knew it was ready. I mean emotionally more than physically.

 

[coltfire]

when im on my property, not in the city, i allow my eckkies to free fly, this came about when we had a cyclone and my averies got ripped out of the ground and i lost a few eckkies, but my first two i got, maxx and lexxy they stayed on the property and when i found what tree they were in i called and they flew back to me, this happened a second time, so after that i knew they were not going off the property i use to let them out once a week, but now im in the city there is no way i would let them out, but soon ill be back home on my property so they can have there flight back. but they are the only two i would let free fly

 

[cockatiel2]

i would be worried. i let my birds fly around my room but that is crazy!

 

[SoCalWendy]

I think it would be cool to be able to allow something like this, especially if I hand the land that had a lot of trees. In Tui's case I think the bird was experienced and he didn't come back because he went in search of his owner. He probably was captured and never released again. I feel bad for his owner, but Tui's case wouldn't keep me from doing it if it was possible.

 

[MonicaMc]

Tui wasn't properly trained. He was still learning and didn't have recall down pat while outside... and wasn't used to the variety of noises going on outside. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

Accidents can happen, even in experienced free-flighted parrots. As there are a lot of dangers outside, there are also many dangers inside the home.