Lost bird, how do we avoid this?

[Birdfreak]

I got my 4 month old Timneh from a breeder in November. Shortly after she sold her last one to a nice lady a couple of provinces over. We ended up messaging and becoming friends. We’ve had our birds now for 3 months. Three days ago she went to grab a package outside her door and her bird flew out the door. It’s -7 Celsius there (-3 today) and warming up the next following days. She’s been going crazy with guilt, trying to find him etc.

I have been fearful of this for myself all along, having two kids, told my partner I wanted to do a two door system in the front and back of the house, he I stated we would just “be careful”. After hearing about whole situation he has granted me permission (lol) to do this. But alas it is winter and it will be a while until we can do this.

what has everyone done to avoid their birds flying out? Has anyone had one fly out and manage to get it back? We work on recall training a lot but I know once actually outside it’s a whole other ball game. We are careful about the door and have a magnetic screen thing on the outside but honestly I feel like she could fly right though it.

my friend is very distraught and depressed. I wish I could help her somehow. My heart goes out for her. It has been 72 hours now.

 

[Mizzely]

I have a hallway between my outside doors and the area my birds are in, so I use a tension rod to hang a sheer curtain.

I also keep doors locked at all times, that way there's that pause to remember to check where birds are at before they are opened.

 

[Xoetix]

I have a screened in porch between the outside door that we use most often and the house, I’m also considering putting up a tension rod with a sheer curtain on the doorway just to add an additional buffer

 

[rocky'smom]

Shower curtain rod with clear plastic shower might help too.

 

[sunnysmom]

I always put my birds back in their cages if I am opening any doors for any reason. I also know of someone that put a sign on the door saying her bird was out so family members going in and out knew when the bird was out.