Found a Pet Bird in Brandon? Who to Call and What to Do

Found Bird Brandon: Your First Steps

Spotting an unfamiliar bird on a fence, hydro line, or your backyard feeder in Brandon is exciting, but it can also be confusing. Is it someone's escaped pet? A wild bird passing through the Assiniboine Valley? Knowing what to do in the first hour matters more than almost anything else you'll do afterward, because a scared bird that flies off again is much harder to recover the second time.

This guide walks through how to identify what you're dealing with, how to keep the bird safe while you sort things out, and who to actually contact in and around Brandon.

Step 1: Is It a Pet or a Wild Bird?

Manitoba is home to plenty of native species that can look "unusual" to someone who isn't a birder — blue jays, northern flickers, and even the occasional escaped falconry bird. But most commonly, a found pet bird in Brandon is a budgie, cockatiel, conure, lovebird, or similar parrot species that got loose from an open window, a torn cage screen, or a moment of inattention during a trip outside.

A few reliable signs you're looking at an escaped pet rather than a wild bird:

• - Bright, unusual colouring — most Manitoba wild birds are camouflaged; a lime-green, yellow, or turquoise bird is almost always a pet.
• - It's not afraid of people — pet birds will often land on shoulders, windowsills, or approach humans directly, especially if they're hungry or cold.
• - It's making unusual sounds — whistling specific tunes, saying words, or making sounds that don't match any local bird call is a strong pet indicator.
• - Leg band — many pet birds, especially those from breeders, wear a small metal or plastic band around one leg.
• - It's a species that doesn't naturally live here — cockatiels, budgies, and conures are not native to Manitoba under any circumstances.

If instead you've found an injured hawk, owl, songbird, or waterfowl, that's a wildlife matter rather than a lost-pet matter — see our wild bird guide for what to do next.