Oliver- Life in the Woods

[macawlover2]

Soo... I'd prefer if nobody bashes me for allowing my military macaw to be fully flighted, but here goes! Long story... But if you have time...

Yesterday around noon I was bringing Oliver to his outdoor cage on the back deck when a lawn care worker spooked him... And he took off.   Full out flying. I froze for a couple seconds just watching him get farther and farther from the deck, eventually curving around the house. I chased after him of course, but lost sight of him. After about 10 minutes of panic-mode searching for him, I called my mom and sister outside, and also called Ed to come over and help us search for him. Neighbors also joined in. We were searching for hours yesterday... Finding a green bird among trees full of green leaves is difficult. We relied solely on listening for his rarely-occurring squawks. Finally found him up high in a tree near our house, but he flew off again when we tried to make him step up onto two pool nets/poles taped together. *sigh*...

We searched for a few more hours, then came back inside to post him online (911parrotalert and craigslist) and print out fliers which we distributed around the neighborhood after a brief thunderstorm (poor guy, probably got so drenched...). Finally at about 7:30pm, we found him about half a mile away our house WAY high in a tree near the highway! He was dry at that point, and since the police or fire department didn't do anything we tried soaking him with someone's hose (so he'd just fall if he tried falling), but the water wouldn't reach him. The owners of the hose came out to help spook him out of the tree, and after about 20 minutes of throwing tennis balls near him he took off again. Unfortunately, he flies really well. Off he went yet again, thankfully back towards the direction of our house rather than over the highway. We looked until sunset then gave up for the night, heartbroken. Nine hours of looking for Oliver, to no avail.

This morning I got up at 5am and went looking again. By 6:30 my parents joined, and about 15 minutes after that I heard the most memorable noises in the world: Oliver's squawk. We headed in his direction and split up again, hoping he'd make another noise. I started searching in someone's backyard, and heard "Ra-rak!" VERY close to my location. I backstepped a little, and heard him again within 20 feet. An amazing sight came next: Oliver was in a cherry tree about 20' high. I called my parents over, and used the treats I brought along to try and coax him down. Nope, didn't work. Neither did climbing up in the tree as we still couldn't reach him. The house owner came out and leaned his extension ladder up against the roof, but even at the top step I wasn't able to reach him. Then my Dad had an idea: He would climb the tree and lean on the branch Oliver was on to lower him hopefully enough for me to grab him from the ladder. I extended my arm as much as I could, and the super-hungry Oliver reached his little foot out... and I got him!! Oh my GOD that was the best feeling in the world!! I brought him down, thanked everyone many many times for their help, and brought him home :) Needless to say, he is now clipped along with Cheyenne.

Here he was in the tree, I was waiting for the first ladder we tried (it was too short), so decided to snap a picture in case it was the last one :( He's the little figure in the poorly-drawn circle.


Wow, what an adventure he had! I'm so glad (and fortunate) to have him back home, but I can't help but wonder what he did when he was out there overnight? We will never know, I suppose. Anyway, here are some pictures of him today safe and sound:

[Ditty]

Holy CRAP that is scary.  I am so glad he is ok and back home safe and sound.    to you and Oliver!  Phew!

[Mi Amore]

wow that would have been super scary its one of my biggest fears thank god he came back to you safe and sound

[BrilliantFids]

What a scary day! I bet Ollie is busy telling the rest of the flock what its like to be a WILD bird!

So glad this had a good ending Em.

[BPMar]

I am more happy, thankful and tearful than anything else for you.
I know what it is like to lose and find, the heartache when gone and the unbelievable joy to find.  If anyone (which I am sure people heard me even being in the woods) heard me they must have thought I had lost my mind.  I didn't care
I am very happy he is safe and sound at home!

[steptoe91(tozie)]

oh wow! every parront's nitemare! i would have just died! i'm so glad he's home safe and sound.  i think the decision to clip or not to clip is a very personal one. i dont think anyone here would judge  your decision with your fid. i, too, let skittles keep his flight feathers. under the idea that he only goes outside with his harness on, but that doesnt mean accidents cant happen.

i just LOVE that last pic of him on his back. i just love a happy macaw on his back!

[BilboMisty]

That is one scary thing to happen! I am always scared I will lose another bird to flight, like I did Cooper. Peanut is flighted, but we live in an apt complex, so IF she does go out the front door, there's 2 other doors she'd have to get out of. So I think she is pretty safe. Even when Clipped, Peanut still flies perfectly, so why go through the trouble of clipping her, ya know?
I too wonder what Ollie thought being outside all night. Nothing like a night of camping outside right? Poor dude...Give him a big ole hug for me. 

I like the pic of Ollie and Chey with Ed...TOO ADORABLE!!!

[BuffaloParrot]

Wow!  What a nightmare!   Nothing to be ashamed of.  You learned some from this and shared it here for others to learn.  This is how we all grow.  I am SOooo glad Oliver is safe with you!

[Sondra]

So glad you and Oliver have a happy ending!

This is a good time to remind everyone that our birds know how to fly up into trees nut do NOT know how to fly down from trees. The leaves and small branches on trees confuse them so they don't know how to navigate to fly down. They will fly up and out of a tree and right to the next one. Some scientists think that because our birds don't normally get to fly that high that they become afraid to fly back down to the ground because it's so far away. One way to assist our birds with this is to bring saplings or long branches into the house and let them strip the bark, play with the leaves, and work on recall traing while they are in the sapling/branch.

[macawlover2]

I think Oliver was pretty relieved to be home too! Immediately he took a long drink of water (even though he should have been somewhat hydrated given the thunderstorm he went through when he was loose...) and ate until his crop was full. He was quiet for a few hours, just preening himself and dozing off, but as you can see in the pictures he was back to his old self that evening :)

[patti3birds]

Oh My Em,
Im so thrilled to have heard your story ended so well. You had me hanging on to every word, hoping it would end well.
Oliver is a Beautiful fid, at least he had a red beacon to look for among the green.

Its nice to see them all home,safe, playing....

We would never ridicule you...we are all here to share and learn from each other, un-like other site's ( that is why I go no where else)

Congratulations, Im sure your sleeping much better too

[wishforabird]

oH MY GOD! WOW!! I am so glad it ended well!!!!! your DAD climbed the tree?????? HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! THAT IS LVOE I TELL YA!! ask around to see how many dads would do that.. very small number I promise. your dad is my hero. 

I love the one on his back too...so oooo  oooooo glad to be home...

this could have ended so differently, your community really did good, renews my faith in humanity to hear of these stories.

ed is really sweet and brave to be on the floor with them like that (my hubby thinks so) I know that they would never hurt him :)