Bob did it again

[davewa]

Hi all,

Bob did it again and flew out of his cage and gave me a heart attack. This time his perch fell down while I was trying to give him a shower and I accidently knocked the door and he flew out the opening.
Luckely there was no bird of prey around to grab him like the last time and he was blown the opposite way to the bush at the end of my street. He landed in a flame tree which was near the oval at the other end of the street ( its a small street ). I ran after him keeping an eye on him so I knew roughly where to look and there he was perched way up in a tree covered in spikes.

3hrs and several trees later he landed on a brick wall and I was able to pick him up before he flew off again, silly bird!!!!

My question is are flame trees poisonous to Galahs cos he chewed off a few thorns so he could make himself comfortable and had a snack on the leaves too while he made us wait!!!!

Dave

[Robyn]

Think you need eyes in the back of your head Dave. Bob seems determined to exercise his wings.
So happy you got the little bugger back.

Forgot to add that the flame tree is toxic to parrots but i think he would only have chewed the leaves & probably didn't ingest any. Just keep your eye on him.

[davewa]

Yep he does like to fly around his cage, I think he does not realise that there are no sides to grab onto once he gets out so he looks around for somewhere to land. He would not go to ground thats how I ended up getting him he ran out of puff going against the wind and all I wanted him to do was land on the grass.
My wife was speaking to a work mate who hand rears birds and they both felt that domesticated birds stay in the trees because they don't know how to navigate their way down the branches because they don't live in trees, don't know sounds possible!

Hopefully he only played with the leaf and did not swallow he has been good tonight and seems fine but will keep an eye out.

[twr]

I'm glad you managed to get Bob back. Pretty scary day for you both.

[Robyn]

Dave that is where recall training comes in handy. I recall all my baby hand-reared birds. It's easy while i am weaning them off. I am sure you could take Bob inside & teach him to come to you when called.

Once a bird escapes & flies up in the big blue younder they panic & normally land in the highest tree available. And yes they don't have a clue how to come down until they are weak & hungry.

[davewa]

I would love to recall train Bob, however since he was taken by the raptor on his last adventure he will not do anything or come near me when he's in his big house. I can't do it inside cos we have 2 indoor cats so that restricts my options.

He won't even budge for his favoand urite food and I have waited in one position for an hour trying to just get him to step up again. Before this happened he was getting good at stepping up and down and was having fun, now he just gets defensive and fluffs his head feathers but atleast he will not bite me so I guess thats something. Although after 7 years of trying I think he is just one of those birds that does not want to comply or be a typical hand reared bird, keep in mind we found him abandoned at the age of one.