These stories are wonderful! I'm amazed though at how many people find their birds.
One day my cockatiel, of nine years, managed to fly outside through a six inch gap in my sliding glass door. I never thought it would happen, but it did. I spent hours following her around and called a friend to come help me catch her. She flew from rooftop to rooftop. She seemed so frightend. Finally, she tried to fly across a field to another rooftop. She couldn't make the distance and she landed on the grass, exhausted. I threw a towel over her and got her in her cage. I was so thankful!!!!
Sadly, just a few days later, after six years of living together, my lab mix got a hold of her and killed her. I guess it was just her time. It still makes me sad, and it took me a very long time to forgive my dog and to understand that she was ust being a dog.