In the United States, it is a crime to kill or trap wild birds, except for certain species that are not "native" species. However, there are many instances where you will need to lead the bird in the right direction. Domesticated birds need to be persuaded to return to their cages every day. Instead, wild birds need to be persuaded to leave their occupied homes.
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Method 1 of 6: Bringing the Bird Back to its Cage
Step 1. Look at the top and bottom
Birds are difficult to find because they are small enough to hide behind objects in the house, but they can also fly out of your line of sight. Finding birds requires a long search. Start by making sure the birds are not in dangerous places.
- Dangerous hiding places are glasses, bathrooms, doorways, windows, stoves, and sofas.
- It is difficult to find birds in hiding such as curtain rods, plants, lamps, coats, ceiling fans, painting frames, and under furniture. Birds can also hide in objects such as clothes baskets, boxes, and drawers.
Step 2. Be calm
Birds understand body language, so a hysterical scream or movement will make a bird as anxious as you are. To lower the bird's tension, you should speak softly and move normally.
Step 3. Make an attractive cage
Birds are likely to return to their cages if they like them. The cage should be somewhere near a crowd of people, where birds are attracted, but it should also be away from a window, which the bird believes it can get out of in case of danger. Provide a variety of toys in the cage to attract birds. Finally, provide special food for birds whenever birds enter their cages.
- Do not give the same food to the bird on any occasion except when returning it to its cage, otherwise the bird will feel normal when it returns to its cage.
- Don't use time in the cage as punishment; this creates a negative association with the cage.
Step 4. Don't make the outside too appealing to the birds
Feeding the bird outside of the cage is a bad idea, as it makes the bird believe it doesn't need to return to the cage under any circumstances. Also prepare the bird's favorite toy in the cage. Lastly, don't build hopes for birds to always be outside. Instead of leaving the bird outside all day once a week, try to set a consistent time outside the cage to control the bird's cravings.
- While you don't want to make things outside the cage too eye-catching, you should make sure that your bird is able to exercise well outside of the cage. This is good for the health of the bird and a tired bird will find it easier to return to its cage.
- Timing the bird out of the cage can help with a regular sleep schedule. This means that you should return the bird to its cage every night before going to bed. When the lights start to turn off, the birds will understand that it's time to rest.
Method 2 of 6: Catching Escaped Birds into the Wild
Step 1. Call the bird when it flies
If you know when the bird is flying, call in a soft but loud voice. If the bird suddenly notices that it's out in the wild and doesn't want it, it will immediately return home following the sound of your voice. Seeing the cage can encourage the bird to immediately fly towards you, as this is something it recognizes in a very foreign world.
Step 2. Watch the birds
Chances are, the bird won't fly very far, as birds that spend most of their time in a cage are usually not strong fliers. Watch the bird until it is out of sight. Notice how low it flies and how tired the bird is; this indicates the bird has landed beyond your line of sight.
Step 3. Go to the place where you last saw the bird in the air
Ask a friend or family member to go with you, as a group of people looking for birds will be more effective. When you go to a place where you last saw a bird, spread out and wander around the area.
Step 4. Bring another pet bird
If you have another pet bird that is common with runaway birds, take this bird in its cage. Place the cage where you can see it. Birds in the cage may start screaming at you, prompting stray birds to start calling. Hear the call of the bird that runs away.
Step 5. Call the bird
If there are no other pet birds, you should try calling the runaway bird with your voice. Use words and a tone of voice that the bird knows or can imitate to let the bird know it's you. Birds are likely to call you back if they are in the area.
Step 6. Perform a search within a radius of about 1.5 km
Pet birds usually don't go far when they run away from home. Look at the trees, lawn, and bushes. Note that during the search, birds may see you before you see them. Sometimes the bird will calm down when the owner is nearby because it feels more comfortable.
Step 7. Bring the birdcage to the area where you found it
When you have found a bird, you must persuade the bird to come to you. Don't try to take it, no matter how happy you are to see it. You have to stay calm, or else the bird will get scared and fly again.
Step 8. Bring the bird's favorite toy
To coax a bird into a cage, you'll need to bring along your favorite toys and food. If the bird likes someone, invite that person too. All of this can be used to persuade the bird to come back to you.
Step 9. Call the bird
If you've trained your bird to perch on your index finger, say the word "up." If properly trained, birds will come to you by themselves.
Step 10. Catch the bird
If a hose is available, spray a large amount of water at the bird only briefly. The water will make the bird so heavy that it cannot fly. Catch the bird so it's safe in your hand, but don't put too much pressure on it; Birds are fragile creatures. If you or your friend has no experience handling birds, try using a pillowcase to hold them.
- The important thing is not to be too slow when spraying water with a hose. If the bird is not too wet, then the water will only scare the bird.
- Ask friends to split up to monitor where the birds are flying if they run away. If your friend can find a high place to see clearly, that's even better.
- Evenings can be a good time to catch birds. Birds are often tired. In addition, if you turn a high-powered flashlight in the bird's face, the bird will dazzle so that it is affordable enough for someone to catch it.
Step 11. Hold the bird gently so as not to hurt it
If the bird continues to want to run away, wrap it in a towel or pillowcase. If the bird is already in your hands, you should protect its head and feet without making it uncomfortable or slowing the bird's breathing.
Towels can help you secure your bird without pressing it too hard. Covering the face will also reduce the threat to birds that can cause stress. However, make sure the towel keeps the bird breathing and doesn't block the flow of oxygen
Method 3 of 6: Taking Action After First 24 Hours
Step 1. Leave the other birds in their cages with the windows open
Birds that don't spend much time outside may not recognize their home. However, birds may be drawn back to their cages by the sound of other birds calling. You can also leave the birdcage with lots of your bird's favorite food in your front yard or doorstep. Birds will be drawn back to familiar cages (and their favorite foods).
Step 2. Set the trap
If you can, buy a trap at a pet store and set it outside with food. This will draw the bird into the trap. In addition, you can place an additional cage on the roof of the house with food and watch for signs of bird presence. Either way, traps should be placed as high as possible, as birds prefer to be in the air.
- Check often, as birds are likely to panic if caught.
- You need to use so-called "living traps" that trap the bird without hurting it. Usually, these are cage traps, which, as the name suggests, are cages that will trap birds to enter.
Step 3. Visit the vet once the bird is recaptured
It is very likely that a tame bird that is in the wild for a long time will get sick or suffer from malnutrition. Take the bird to the vet immediately to be examined if there are any problems.
However, don't be discouraged if the bird doesn't reappear soon. Some birds can live for years in the wild
Method 4 of 6: Catching Wild Birds at Home
Step 1. Be calm
It's important to remember, although you may be upset if there is a bird in your house, it is likely scared. The worst thing you could possibly do is start screaming and throwing things at the bird-this will only cause the bird to panic and fly around the house in fear. Stay calm and remember that birds are much more afraid than you.
Step 2. Keep pets away from birds
If birds enter your house, you should put your pet in a room and close the door so the birds can't get in (and the pets can't get out). Moreover, cats love to chase birds.
Step 3. Close all doors to other rooms
You need to prevent the bird from moving by holding it still in a room. To do this, you must close all the doors to the other rooms so that the bird has no choice but to remain in the room.
If the entrance to the room doesn't have a door, you can put up a towel or blanket so it's blocked. Use tacks to hold the towel or blanket together
Step 4. Close the curtains and turn off the lights
Closing the curtains reduces the chance that birds will accidentally fly into a closed window thinking it's an escape route. Also, if you turn off all the lights, with a window open, birds will be attracted to the window and then try to fly out.
Step 5. Open a window
If you leave a window open and turn off all the lights, birds will usually be attracted to the window. Remain calm, or you will attract birds' attention. Give your bird about 30 minutes before trying a new move.
Step 6. Use the sheets to lure the birds out
Take a large sheet and spread it as far as possible, as if to cover a person. Walk up to the bird while moving the sheets, to scare the bird into the window.
Be careful not to touch the bird harshly. Birds are delicate animals and are prone to injury even with a very gentle touch
Step 7. Contact a professional
In the end, some birds will want to live in your home, regardless of whether it's due to urges and large predatory birds that are too dangerous to deal with. If you're having trouble, look online for wild animal control organizations and reach out to a professional for help.
Method 5 of 6: Get Rid of Disturbing Birds
Step 1. Contact your local wildlife authority
The regulations strictly limit what you can do with respect to annoying birds. However, there are steps you can take if birds damage things, their droppings are a health hazard, or if they are obstructing water pipes. Authorities can grant special permits to trap the birds, or make suggestions for repelling the birds.
Remember, a nomadic bird will only be in an area for a while; then the best thing is to wait for the bird to fly out
Step 2. Install the bird repellent
There are many tools that can be legally used to keep birds away. This tool makes a sound that can scare birds when approaching an area. Products like the Prowler Owl are designed to trick birds into believing that a predatory predator is in the vicinity. Chemical polybutylene repellents can also be installed on surfaces that attract birds.
- Before installing this appliance, you must clean the bird droppings on the surface.
- Devices that emit ultrasonic sound have not been proven effective. Tools intended to scare birds away with loud noises and bright eyes are also not very effective in urban areas, where birds are often used to these things.
Step 3. Create a physical barrier
If you know where birds like to roost, you can create barriers that will prevent them from getting there. Place wooden beams on the balcony at a 45-degree angle so birds can't perch there. The net can also be installed on the exterior surface of the room.
Method 6 of 6: Preventing Birds from Escape
Step 1. Train the bird
You must train the bird to perch on the index finger. Position the index finger in front of the bird, say “up” and feed it every time the bird rises. Practice this move even when you're not putting the bird in its cage, so the bird doesn't think that practicing perching means getting into the cage. Sometimes you have to put the bird in its cage and let it out again, so that the bird doesn't believe that returning to the cage means being locked up for a long time.
- You can train with things other than your fingers, including sticks. Ladders can be useful because birds usually enjoy climbing them. Training a bird to do this can be an easy way to get into its cage.
- Because they love to climb to the top, birds are often more pleased with this habit if you start lifting your finger slowly after the bird has perched on it.
- Some people recommend that you do this step every time you return your bird to its cage. What this means is that if you let the bird fly back on its own accord, the bird believes it can make its own schedule for being outside.
Step 2. Hold the bird so it doesn't fly away
If it's already above the index finger, you need to secure it so it can't fly, but also makes the bird feel comfortable. The only way is to press the thumb lightly against the index finger, to secure the bird's foot to the finger. Alternatively, you can gently hold the back of the bird with the other hand, so that the bird cannot spread its wings.
You should practice these positions during regular practice, so the bird gets used to it and doesn't see this as a return to the cage. Also, if this cage becomes a second home, it's less likely that you'll forget to secure the bird and let it escape if it's in an unfamiliar or dangerous place
Step 3. Ask your veterinarian about clipping the bird's wings
If you have trouble controlling the bird, you can trim its wings, so that the bird can only fly a short distance or not fly at all, depending on how short the wings are cut. However, this is actually annoying, because the bird will not feel tired when outside the cage and may not want to return to the cage.
