RECAPTURE ESCAPEES

Do everything as high up as possible. And don't chase him all over and miss. You will only make him more wary.

• They usually come in at dawn and dusk, If possible put the mate outside in a small cage inside the larger one. If possible.
• Get the mate in a smaller cage up against the house with the bigger cage in front of it with trap door open. If possible.

Throw some food on top of the house, and perhaps water in his dish on top also. Not too much, you want him hungry. That will keep him close. If his food is in a crock put the crock up there.

The more weight he loses the better he can fly, so the quicker you want to catch him.

Get a few garden hoses ready, that will reach everywhere. If he avoids all cages but comes in low, wait till he perches someplace and hit him with all you got from the water hose. Get him as wet as you can as fast as you can. He will be surprised and too heavy to fly immediately. Throw a towel over him then.

If he still isn't trapped by night watch where he roosts, it may be low enough to sneak up at night and catch him, but you only usually get one shot at night.

About the third day is when they get careless because they are hungry. Usually your best shot then. Above all don't give up. They show up 3 weeks later sometimes.

You need to be up at daybreak. It is amazing how they try to stay close. Good luck, Jean.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Jean Pattison (FL)

Use Browser BACK Button

Pretty Birds: Copyright © 1997: Last Modified 07/13/00: Copyright Law and International Treaties protect these Web Site Pages. Warning: Reproduction or Distribution of these images, program, text or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.