My parakeet is so afraid of me.

Question
I have a parakeet that someone gave me.  I think I am the third owner.  He seemed to be friendly in the beginning but wary of me.  A few times he escaped from his cage when I would feed him and clean his cage.  In trying to catch him I think he became afraid of me.  I would catch him and he would sit on my finger and I would talk to him.  He didn't seem to mind, so I thought that he was ok with me doing that.  Now everytime I go near his cage he runs to the back of the cage and hides from me.  I'm afraid to go near his cage, so I talk to him from about 3 ft away from the cage.  
I also just changed the location of his cage.  He was in front of a window but with fall and winter coming I wanted to move his cage away from the window because it gets drafty.  I wanted him to be used to his new location.  Now he is far from the window but I brought a special light (I think is called a spectrum light) that is like sunlight.
My question is how can I get him to trust me again?  I want him to be happy and not so scared.  Is it too late?
Thanks,
Cathy

Answer
Hi Cathy,

Don't worry it's never too late! You sound like a very caring owner this budgie is lucky to have you. Try putting your budgie in the living or a room where you and other people spend alot of time,this will hopefully get him more used to your pressence. Talking to him is great way to get him used to you but without contact your budgie will not bond and thus trust you. I reccommend clipping his wings, this makes him more dependent on you for getting to and from his cage, and will hopefully make him trust you more once he relises that you are helping him.
Try to cup him in your hands and gently talk to him and stroke his head this will also show him that your hands are a safe haven. Be paitent though this will take time...

goodluck!