Found Bird in Burnaby? Who to Call and How to Reunite It

Found Bird in Burnaby: What to Do First

Spotting a parrot, budgie, cockatiel, or other pet bird loose in a Burnaby backyard, park, or on a power line is more common than most people realize — pet birds get out through cracked doors, torn screens, or a startled moment on someone's shoulder outside. If you've just found a bird in Burnaby, the good news is that most escaped pet birds stay reasonably close to where they got loose, at least for the first day or two, especially if food and water are nearby. What you do in the first hour matters more than almost anything else.

This guide walks through exactly who to contact, how to safely secure the bird, and how to maximize the odds of finding its owner — without guessing or waiting around.

Step 1: Confirm It's a Pet Bird, Not Local Wildlife

Before you do anything else, make sure you're actually looking at an escaped pet, not a native species. Pet birds that go missing in the Lower Mainland are usually budgies, cockatiels, conures, African greys, Amazons, lovebirds, or the occasional macaw — often brightly coloured, sometimes talking or whistling, and usually far tamer around people than a wild bird would be. If it lands near you, watches you closely, or steps toward outstretched fingers, that's a strong sign it's someone's companion bird.

If instead you've found an injured crow, owl, hawk, or other native species, that's a wildlife rescue situation, not a lost-pet one. Our found a wild bird page has guidance specific to native wildlife in Canada.

Step 2: Try to Safely Contain the Bird

Loose pet birds are drawn to high perches and tend to fly toward the nearest tree, rooftop, or hydro line when startled, so slow and quiet is the way to go.

• - Don't chase it. Sudden movement almost always pushes it higher and further away.
• - Offer millet spray, seed, or a shallow dish of water at ground level or on a low perch, and step back.
• - If it's calm enough to approach, a towel draped gently over it (never grabbed at) or a large box propped with a stick and bait underneath can work.
• - If it's high in a tree or on a roofline, don't attempt to climb after it. Many birds come down on their own toward dusk when they get hungry, tired, or cold.