Happy Parakeet

Question
Concerned!  Last summer a pretty green parakeet came to visit us.   We live in Middle Tn. she stayed all summmer and I was able to get her to eat from my hand.  Early Sept. I decided to cage her in fear of the bird getting too cold.  She sat all summer long in a bird box trying to hatch two eggs then left.  Early Oct. she reappeared I mentioned the cage and she left again.  Thinking the bird surely had left or frozen, saddened and disappointed I gave up.   To my wondering eyes appeared Jan. 10th on my deck my missing bird.  Happy as a lark and socializing with the local wrens.  Should I leave her alone....  ??  Obviously she has a handle on life and wants to be a free bird.  ??????
Amazed,  Gail Farley

Answer
I would really work on catching her, this is not healthy for a parakeet to live out in the wild in an unnatural environment to them. There is no way she is getting the proper food requirement from foraging in an environment that is not native to that species of bird. For example, Parakeets are from Australia where she would be foraging for foods very different than what we have her in the U.S.

I would set a cage that has a guillotine door. You will want to set this cage outside or hang it where your bird feeder is. Fill the bottom of the cage with bird seed. Take fishing line and attach it to a clothes pin. Pin the door up with the close pin and take the fishing line all the way to the house with you so there is an invisible draw string. This may take a while so make sure you stay patient during this process. As soon as she goes into the cage to eat the food you pull the close pin and gravity will shut the door.

You will want to get her vet checked for mites and start giving her lots of fresh foods so she stays healthy.
Good Luck and I hope you catch her!