Can we help find pet pied cockatiel?

On March 19, our pet cockatiel, Magnet, became startled and accidentally flew out of our home through a back door that had been slightly open.

That wouldn't have occurred if her wings had been clipped, something several knowledgeable bird owners had suggested I have done.

Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but the reason I did not clip her wings was because some of our parakeets had a tendency to startle her, and when attempting to fly with clipped wings she would invariably crash-land.

But a bird crash-landing is far better than one who becomes lost or fails to survive outside your home. So it is advisable for all owners to have their pet birds' wings clipped in order to prevent such a tragedy.

I don't know if our cockatiel survived or was rescued, but if anyone has found or seen her, I'd appreciate if they would call me at (847) 577-6941. I am offering a substantial reward and reimbursement of any expenses.

Magnet is a hand-tamed pied cockatiel, about 8 to 10 inches long with a mostly yellow face and body, gray outside wings and orange "cheeks." She was lost in the area east of Fairview School in Mount Prospect, but if she survived could be anywhere in the Northwest suburbs.

Joseph F. Lenius

Mount Prospect