Officially feel like the WORST Parront EVER!

[Jessie]

So I have Rio out most of the time now and he has his FAVORITE spot on the Internet modem right next to the T.V. (he likes to sit on the modem and lean back against the T.V. it's really the cutest thing). Anyways when he's on that spot he's super quiet which is rare for him and he usually bobs his head to the T.V. or naps. I have two dogs and they needed to go outside to potty and I forgot about Rio being out. So I opened the backdoor and the lanai door and just left them open and I was standing on the back porch watching the dogs. Then all the sudden I see Rio flying outside and I think I'm never gonna see him again when all of the sudden he lands on my shoulder and just looks at me. I slowly walk back inside not to startle him and close the door. My stomach has been in knots all day thinking about all the bad things that would have happened. We have a bunch of Nanday's flying free here in Sarasota but would Rio have survived?! And we have hawks EVERYWHERE! I'm just so lucky he decided to fly to me instead of flying away. And I feel so guilty that I could forget about him being out! I'm pretty sure I learned my lesson big time! Has anything like this ever happened to you?

 

[Dopey]

I can't remember now what may have happened but I'm pretty sure that I've done something just as easy as that. We forget. Try not to beat yourself up about it. I'm glad he is safe at home.

 

[RavensGryf]

WHEW!! I looked like this :11: while reading! You were so lucky thank goodness!
The scary part is that we're only human, and even when we're 100% paranoid about this happening and take measures to prevent, all it takes is some unexpected distraction, etc. BUT each time something 'almost' happens, it only enforces us to pay attention even more diligently from now on. It can happen to anyone Jessie. I'm really glad to hear this ended well

 

[Birdman666]

Many years ago I got a phone call at work, and my ex-wife went outside with my super bonded (to me - not so much to her) sun conure took off and was gone! (This bird used to listen for the sound of my car when I came home. I wouldn't get both feet in the door before he would fly to my shoulder.) This bird was flighted and recalled. I used to freefly him.

Needless to say, remaining at work nearly killed me. I wanted to drop everything, go home, and look for my bird.

As it turns out, he had flown to a tree down the street, and when he heard my car, he followed it home. I could hear him calling from the tree. I barely got both feet out of the car, when he swooped onto my shoulder...

Birds fly off sometimes.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Sounds to me like you are GREAT parront! It speaks VOLUMES that he flew to you and didn't fly away! We are all human and we all make mistakes. He obviously loves you very much and was just looking for you when you went away!

 

[Jessie]

Thank you everyone you guys are always so supportive! I remember when I first got him I was soo cautious about everything and I didn't realize till now how much I've relaxed with everything. I guess I'm lucky he bonded to me like he did! Birdman that's amazing how bonded your sun was! I'm glad it ended well for you as well!

 

[Minimaker]

Wow I'm so glad for you that he came back to you! That was amazing that he loves you enough to come right back even when he could fly off anywhere. You should be very proud of that

 

[Birdman666]

And I feel so guilty that I could forget about him being out! I'm pretty sure I learned my lesson big time! Has anything like this ever happened to you?

My free flighted conure got hit by a car. (The one that came back to me.)

Another got eaten by an owl.

I taught my severely neurotic plucker too, to use preening toys instead of chewing herself into festering wounds. I thought I was helping her... then she ingested soooo much stuff from the preening toy she died of an intestinal bockage.

Sally flew off on me once.

Lila flew off on me once.

Sweepea flew off on me twice.

Tusk has flown off on me FIVE times.

So, am I a negligent parront?!

Or is that just the inherent risk we take when we bring these creatures out of their environment, and raise them in ours?

My birds are happy, well fed, well cared for, and loved. I try my best... but bad things sometimes happen to good people, and good birds...

And happy go lucky conures especially have a habit of getting themselves into trouble without realizing it until it's too late.

It happens.

 

[Jessie]

Thank you! I feel much better about it now then I did this morning. Your right Birdmann bad things happen to us all. I'm sorry for all the mishaps you've had in the past!

 

[Flboy]

Parront, I like that!!
I know I am a guy, but I leave the house, drive back to check on my baby every time. I have dachounds that have killed birds right in front of me before I could move. No, not my dogs, when kids move out, they collect things,,then move back in.

 

[veimar]

Whew, thanks God he came back to you! My heart sank while I was reading. You are not a bad parront - these things can happen to everyone! By making mistakes we learn. You are so lucky you got the happy ending of the story.

 

[strudel]

Yes, my galah got a fright out the back one day and took off flying. I didn't think she could fly, her wings were clipped. Luckily she didn't clear the fence and she came down still in my backyard. Your heart just drops, it's awful when there's a sudden upset like that. I'm glad Rio only gave you a fright and didn't get further away.

 

[SilverSage]

I agree, the fact that the bird went right to YOU means a lot. Remember the terror, and let it remind you to check the door next time, but don't beat yourself up. I am so glad to hear this ended well!

 

[Jessie]

Ever since that day, when I now go to let the dogs out he follows me to the door as in to say take me take me! So now I have to open the slider and make sure he doesn't get out before I open the lanai door lol. He seems to think he should be allowed to go anywhere with me. I was just thinking about getting another bird as a friend to Rio and myself (they'd be caged separately of course) but now I'm not so sure anymore. That's then two potential escape artists on the prowl...

 

[veimar]

Hey did you try to put a harness on him? I have aviator harness which I bought for my gcc, but he hated it, and I used it with my cockatiel and took him to walks and grocery store with me.
I think it's always nice to have more than one bird, but it depends on how they get along. My flock is all very bonded, but not as bonded to me anymore.

 

[Jessie]

He doesn't really like to be touched so I haven't even attempted a harness. Today is the first time actually that he's let me rub the side of his wing for about ten seconds before he had enough. Maybe in a few more weeks he will let me rub him and I can try the harness thing.

 

[Delfin]

My other Half leaves the back sliding door wide open for the dog and I'll be walking around the house with Delfin on my shoulder before I realised that the back sliding door was open and this is not the first time. Delfin would rather sit on my shoulder and watch what I'm doing. Mulawa was in the cage eating, (boy can she eat) I just went over and closed the door.

Before I let Mulawa out of the cage I make sure that all the doors are closed. This only because Mulawa is not has bonded to us like Delfin. This is changing has we interact with Mulawa.

When Delfin gets a scare, he flies to my shoulder and hides behind my head, then attempts to crawl under my T-shirt.

 

[Tempest]

I know a man who forgot to strap his newborn into the car... just put the carseat on the roof, got in, and drove off.

He drove all the way to the highway before the baby and carseat flew off the roof; unbelievable, the child was uninjured. The seat landed upright in the highway and and a following car realized what had happened, blocked the road and the child was safe.

I guess we all have moments of forgetfulness... so glad your parrot is still with you!

 

[Flboy]

I know a man who forgot to strap his newborn into the car... just put the carseat on the roof, got in, and drove off.

He drove all the way to the highway before the baby and carseat flew off the roof; unbelievable, the child was uninjured. The seat landed upright in the highway and and a following car realized what had happened, blocked the road and the child was safe!

That is so funny!

 

[bettietheripper]

Many years ago I got a phone call at work, and my ex-wife went outside with my super bonded (to me - not so much to her) sun conure took off and was gone! (This bird used to listen for the sound of my car when I came home. I wouldn't get both feet in the door before he would fly to my shoulder.) This bird was flighted and recalled. I used to freefly him.

Needless to say, remaining at work nearly killed me. I wanted to drop everything, go home, and look for my bird.

As it turns out, he had flown to a tree down the street, and when he heard my car, he followed it home. I could hear him calling from the tree. I barely got both feet out of the car, when he swooped onto my shoulder...

Birds fly off sometimes.

If this happened to me, I'd have a serious panic attack!