tfilm@ihuxn.UUCP (M. E. Lindenmeyer) (11/28/83)
This fall we have had the good fortune of having a displaced parrot (probably an escaped pet) feeding in our crabapple tree. I am doubtful whether it can weather the Chicago winter, and would like to capture it for a friend who would properly care for it. Are there any suggestions on how one can capture such an animal without harming it? My last resort would be to stun it with a slingshot, thus enabling me to capture it in a net. MEL!tfilm 831128-0812
edler@cmcl2.UUCP (11/29/83)
#R:ihuxn:-43200:cmcl2:18700001:000:275 cmcl2!edler Nov 28 19:47:00 1983 Try spraying it with a lawn hose. With wet feathers it should not be very good at flying, and should flutter to the ground where an accomplice can grab it (using a towel to protect from bites if that is a worry). Jan Edler cmcl2!edler (New York University) edler@nyu
braddy@houxl.UUCP (D.BRADDY) (11/29/83)
I live with four (4) parrots. They have gotten out of the house a few times, and while there is no sure recipe for catching them, here's some ideas. First, may I suggest wearing gloves -- parrot bites can range from painful, sometimes bloody (in my experience) to missing ends of fingers (I speculate, if bird were real scared/angry.) I also found it much quicker in the long run to move very slowly while approaching them, with my brother singing to them from the other side for a distraction, than to supprise them into flying to yet another tree. They are tame (at least they know me & behave accordingly, if they feel like it) and got hungry towards evening, so by luring them to me with food (try peanuts, bread, green chewy vegatables), I could get close enough to them to offer my finger to perch on, and they climbed on. I then gently held the bird's foot under my thumb while I climbed down from the roof where I stood to reach them. The ones I know are fairly durable beasts, but *do* have hollow bones and bodies much smaller than their feathers might lead you to think, so before you consider a slingshot, decide what you'd do with a lame parrot. Good luck, David Braddy houxl!braddy
akwright@watmath.UUCP (Andrew K. Wright) (12/02/83)
On no account stun it with a stone! youll probably kill it. Really, it is quite simple: just get your garden hose out and soak it down. The bird will not be able to fly very well when soaked, and you can then shake or chase it out of the tree. You might have a pail of water ready to douse it with when it lands. Then throw a towel over it and you are a proud new parrot owner!