One day when you have the cage door open, or the floor of the cage
removed for cleaning, your pet may escape and fly about the room. If
this happens, do not chase or grab at the bird. He will become
frightened, and if you catch him, you may grasp him too firmly.
If your pet escapes, remain calm. First shut all the doors and windows
in the room, and turn off any open flames on the kitchen range if the
bird is loose in the kitchen. Pull down the shades and turn off the
lights. When the room is darkened, the bird will cease to fly about.
Then you can easily approach it, take it gently in your cupped hand, and
return it to the cage. If you cannot darken the room, just prop open the
cage door. Left alone, most birds will fly back inside the cage for food
and water in a short time.
If the bird gets out-of-doors it will not usually fly farther than a
nearby shrub or tree. Again, tie the cage door open and set the cage
where the bird can see it, and the canary will usually come "home" in
short while. The main thing is to keep calm and avoid frightening or
injuring the bird.
When the weather is warm, an escaped bird perching on a low shrub or
branch is sometimes caught easily after his feathers have been dampened
by a fine mist from the garden hose. This method should never be used in
cold weather.