Budgie in the yard

[Howieh]

I looked out earlier this morning and even though I couldn't tell immediately what it was because it was on the back of the feeder, I knew it was different! It's a beautiful (mature, I think?) pale blue budgie and he (or she) is coming to the feeder every few minutes to feed. So far the only other birds around are sparrows and they seem to be getting along ok, and the weather looks good for the next few days so things aren't desperate, yet. I'm not sure what to do next but in the meantime I'll try to keep the feeder full and hope someone in the neighborhood posts a lost bird notice, etc.

[Howieh]

She wasn't around yesterday afternoon or evening so I thought she was gone but she's back this morning along with a few kinglets, robins, sparrows (finally one white crowned), a pair of cardinals and a downy woodpecker - busy morning! and I almost forgot, the hummingbird feeder is still out and I have LOTS of hornets; isn't it kind of late for those pests?

[Rob'in'To]

I saw one wasp this morning.  No hornets even with my h-bird feeders still out (and no Hummingbirds).

You gonna try and help that Budgie out?  You know Budgie stories.

Look at the cere (nostril area) and if it's brown (female) or blue (male).

[Howieh]

I saw one wasp this morning.  No hornets even with my h-bird feeders still out (and no Hummingbirds).

You gonna try and help that Budgie out?  You know Budgie stories.

Look at the cere (nostril area) and if it's brown (female) or blue (male).

I'm pretty sure it's a female and so far she is interacting very well with the sparrows and the chickadees. I'm not really sure what to do and I don't have a bird cage - any suggestions are more than welcome, who can I call, etc. In the meantime I'll keep the feeder full and hope the cardinals don't hassle her...

[Rob'in'To]

My first Budgie I did catch with a cage.  I left it outside and she used it.

My second Budgie I walked up to and threw a t-shirt over and in he came.

I'd say see how close you can get to it for starts.  Just go slow and ninja like.

If you don't have a cage, there's an issue for sure.  And what to do with it afterwards.  I know TAS takes everything in.  And there's people on Kijiji looking for free birds all the time, maybe even a posting of a lost bird.

They are tough little birds but I've yet to hear of one lasting a full winter here in Toronto.

If you need help, or want some further advice, PM me...

[Howieh]

Thanks Rob. I'm fighting my worst cold in living memory but as of late Saturday afternoon she was still around and I am still trying to keep the feeder from running 'dry'! Anyone with a cage is more than welcome to attempt a capture; just PM me first so some arrangements can be made. Light showers are expected on Sunday but only a gradual cooling trend into next week should be good for her continuing survival, and so far everyone is getting along very well (including the cardinals and a blue jay that drops by every so often for peanuts!).

[Howieh]

Wow, it's been about a month and trust me, not only is she still here but she's doing much better than me (my fall colds just won't let go!). In fact, she seems to have adjusted so well to the cold outside world that I am concerned about what might happen if she returns to a nice warm environment - silly, huh?. She has been through at least two subfreezing nights and both times she was first at the feeder the following morning and of course I made sure food was available before the rest of the maddening crowd arrived. I'm still trying to acquire (borrow?) a cage but I'm not willing to go too far (Bayview /Steeles area) to get it. Btw, I can stand within a few inches of her when she's feeding AND she usually sleeps in a spot where I can just reach in and grab her so catching her should not be a problem.

[Paul O'Toole]

If anyone has a mobile phone or small device you could place it in the bottom of the cage and play some budgie calls, they are used to and like being with others.

[Howieh]

I kinda miss her already but thanks to Rob, I'm sure she has a REALLY good home (Unfortunately Rob may end up homeless but that's another story!). Last week he brought over a birdcage and we had a cage match - budgie won (i.e. we couldn't catch her or lure her into the cage) so Rob left me the cage and the challenge of catching her before she froze! No problem - she often sleeps in my yard about five feet off the ground, so last night I put on my 'silent' mitts, grabbed her and put her in the cage, where she stayed overnight until Rob picked her up this morning. So that's it for me; there could be more but I'll leave it up to Rob tell the rest of the story if he so chooses!

[Rob'in'To]

Yes, after some searching, and even declining some initial offers to take her because I knew they weren't suitable...  she's landed herself in a home I can only describe as "perfect".  Her family have lots of experience with Budgies over the years and she has two room mates being English Budgies.  So even if the humans aren't home, the little girl has company in way of feathered friends.

Its blowing my mind how many pet birds are flying around the GTA the past few months.  And just after we delivered her to her new forever home on Saturday, we got word from friends near home of a Budgie visiting their feeders now.  Damn!

I've never wanted to own birds but had to help our two Budgies we now have, who showed up at the feeders over the past 7 years.  And now I do have a soft spot for them all and do my best to try and help where possible.  Big shout out to Howie for grabbing her the other night and another big shout out to our friend Chris who took her in.  The Budgie now has a name...  it's Belle.

And here she is, courtesy of Howie.


Thankfully I live to see another sunrise after this adventure.  

[lovemypt]

Rob...Budgie Whisperer      

[Rob'in'To]

Hardy har har!    

That's enough Budgies for now man.

[Trillian Flummox]

Rob and Howie - you guys have the biggest hearts!  What a great ending to this intriguing story. And isn't "Belle" beautiful!

-kris

[Howieh]

I've never wanted to own birds but had to help our two Budgies we now have, who showed up at the feeders over the past 7 years.  And now I do have a soft spot for them all and do my best to try and help where possible.  Big shout out to Howie for grabbing her the other night and another big shout out to our friend Chris who took her in.  The Budgie now has a name...  it's Belle.

No disrespect to Howie (hey, that's me!) or Chris, but the biggest shout out of all MUST go to Rob, who did most of the legwork and really made this all possible. I'm just back from a couple of days at the Seneca Niagara Casino where I met someone who had lots of experience with budgies. She said most escapees do very well in the wild and in the process can become quite wild themselves, so I'm sure, if given the chance, Belle will spend lots of time bossing the other birds around! I think the plans are to wait a while before allowing her in their cage and I'm really interested to know how that turns out. Btw, when that picture was taken she was spending some quiet time away from the sparrows that almost always dogged her at the feeder, in a tree on my neighbours front lawn.