My cockatiel, Bella, flew away today, and I feel horrible. It was a nice sunny day today, and my mum suggested I take my Bella outside whilst she was in her cage, so she could catch some sun whilst I sat there with her in the backyard. But whilst she was hand-raised by her previous owner (we got her when she was about a year old), she loved to zoom around the house and call out everytime she heard the birds outside. She did sit on my shoulder and ate with us, but for some reason I always had a guilty conscience that she wanted to be free and out in the wild. I told myself that she was better off with me because she had all the food and water and safety. But today, whilst she and I were in the yard, she saw a bunch of local pigeons come down to the grass and forage for food - and she seemed desperate to get out of her cage. I don't know why but it was like she was telling me that she wanted to get out and be free like the pigeons. And in that moment, my guilt kicked in and I opened a door of her cage and stretched out my hand for her. She hopped onto my hand and climbed up my arm, but I moved my leg a bit and the pigeons nearby flapped loudly - and that's when she flapped away. For a few seconds I could see her outside the yard but in the skies and I called out for her, but then she was...gone. I couldn't see her anymore. I was crying loudly and yelling out for her and went out to the front to see if she landed on another roof but still didn't see her. I've walked the nearby streets twice, checked every tree I could, albeit hopelessly because finding her seemed like finding a needle in a haystack.
It's now the evening and obviously colder and darker, and I'm super worried for her. She's never lived in the wild - could it be that she could figure things out organically because it's somehow encoded in her DNA? I just...feel so silly, especially considering that I was planning to try using a harness for her when it gets delivered (even though I was worried I wouldn't be able to get it on her because whilst she's tame she hates getting held with both hands even for a second). I've kept her cage outside, put a tray of water outside too, knowing that tiels regulalry search for water. I'm thinking of putting up some lost and reward posters on some trees in the surrounding streets and continue to keep an eye on her everyday when I go for a walk. But I don't know anymore. If I could only just turn back time. I made the silliest mistake in the heat of a moment and I have no one to blame except myself. My mum tried to calm me down, but I just know for sure that I'm going to be melancholic and depressed for a long time because I've lost my dear little feather baby - she gave me so much hope and joy and a purpose in life too. I just pray to God that she stays safe and lives her happiest life.
I miss you my Bella
It's now the evening and obviously colder and darker, and I'm super worried for her. She's never lived in the wild - could it be that she could figure things out organically because it's somehow encoded in her DNA? I just...feel so silly, especially considering that I was planning to try using a harness for her when it gets delivered (even though I was worried I wouldn't be able to get it on her because whilst she's tame she hates getting held with both hands even for a second). I've kept her cage outside, put a tray of water outside too, knowing that tiels regulalry search for water. I'm thinking of putting up some lost and reward posters on some trees in the surrounding streets and continue to keep an eye on her everyday when I go for a walk. But I don't know anymore. If I could only just turn back time. I made the silliest mistake in the heat of a moment and I have no one to blame except myself. My mum tried to calm me down, but I just know for sure that I'm going to be melancholic and depressed for a long time because I've lost my dear little feather baby - she gave me so much hope and joy and a purpose in life too. I just pray to God that she stays safe and lives her happiest life.
I miss you my Bella
