On Thursday, January 11, 2007, Amber O’Neill with the Lost/Found Committee, got a call that is dreaded at any time of the year, but especially in the dead of winter. A person’s cockatiel had escaped outside and was stuck high up in a tree. The owner wanted to know if Amber could help get the bird back. Amber, who is the Lost/Found Committee Chair, quickly called for reinforcements. Garry Wallan was closest committee member and happens to live on that side of town. He agreed to assist and left immediately to the location given. Amber advised the owner to keep sight of the bird. When she arrived, Garry pointed out the wayward cockatiel. It was too high up to extract. There simply was no way to get to the bird. With the outside temperature around 20 degrees, both Garry and Amber realized that time was running out. The bird had been out for several hours and wasn’t moving a lot. It was dark and there didn’t seem to be any hope of retrieving the bird. It was at that moment that Amber decided to take a chance and ask the fire department if they could assist.

Amber drove to the closest fire department and arrived at the station just as the crew was headed to dinner in one of their ladder trucks. She described the situation and they agreed to help. The firemen followed Amber in their truck to the location of the treed cockatiel and promptly went about setting up to extricate the bird from the tree. A fireman went up in a ladder/bucket to the approximate level that the cockatiel had been sighted. At first the fireman had some difficulty seeing the bird, but finally, with help and encouragement from the crowd below (and a very bright spotlight), the cockatiel was located, successfully apprehended and returned to the owner.

Needless to say, this was a very scary event and in this case, had a happy ending. Not all rescues have happy endings. Ask Amber: she can tell you about the not-so-lucky birds. Each one is sadly memorable because it was preventable by taking a few simple precautions. Please remember to clip your bird’s wings. If you don’t know how to clip wings or need training, please check with us; we’ll be glad to help! If you aren’t going to clip wings, then please take the necessary precautions to prevent your bird from escaping. Keep screens on your windows and doors. Don’t walk outside with your bird on your shoulder, arms or hand. If someone’s going in and out of the house, put the bird in its cage during that time. Train your bird to come to recall. If you take your bird outside, use a kennel or a harness to secure your bird. Again, if you need assistance or would like to learn more about how to do these things, we can help!

If your bird does manage to escape, keep you eyes on the bird. Have someone immediately contact the Lost/Found Committee for assistance: (907) 351-2762. And finally, don’t give up! Birds have been found days and even weeks later.

Finally, if you’d like to help the Lost/Found Committee, please contact Amber at the number above.

CONGRATULATIONS TO AMBER AND GARRY ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RESCUE!

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
akbirdclub@yahoo.com