HOW CAN I KEEP MY PARROT SAFE FROM THIEVES?

All individual birds should be identifiable. Take photos; microchip; ask about ringing a bird (the breeder) or identification by blood sample (your vet). Think about teaching a pet parrot your phone number. Install alarms, security lights (not where they will disturb the birds), plant bristly thorny shrubs etc. Mark boxes and cages with microdot liquid solution or UV marking so post codes. Sometimes being able to trace the cages will help you trace the bird. Contact the National Theft Register on 01869 325699 to report all thefts and losses and also any found birds. The Register will also give advice on security and can be hired to do detective work to trace stolen birds. Details of the Register are also on www.theparrotsocietyUK.org Look at Menu at left hand side. Then press Next Menu at the bottom and open "Theft and investigations" when the next menu turns up. If you do lose a bird, it's usually better to tempt it down with food than to try to pursue it ­ it will only fly further away. Beware of giving out your address to anybody. Most parrot keepers have a PO Box address.