We are taking a short break from the camping I do every summer with Simon. We had been there almost three weeks and were having a great time then we had a disaster. A fellow camper started a saw and startled Simon although he can fly he never goes far well this time he went around the trailer and we lost him. I was in tears trying to find him with all the ever green trees he was hard to spot. But having the kind of good camping friends everyone was looking for him. It seemed that every time I called his name every Blue Jay would answer I was fast losing hope and had no thought of stopping looking for him. I kept calling him then stopping to see if he would say anything. I was coming back to the trailer to see were everyone had looked calling him every few feet when all I heard was "cracker" his favorite word it took some doing but he kept talking and I found him in the ferns. I don't know how to say how I felt at finding him. As I have said I haven't had much luck with the harness so we clipped him I don't want to do this again. He can still fly short distances. I think he was as scared as I was and stayed under my shirt for hours after his great adventure. We have been taking him camping for three years and never had this happen (hope to not repeat this again). He enjoyed the trip even with his scare and wants to go back soon. Getting in his travel cage everyday looking at me. I guess having mom all to himself for the most part is fun for him.

Good that you got him. It is always scary when we have birds on the wing. It happens to all of us. Honey is now surgically attached to my son after her unplanned flight.

Oh Gail I am so sorry. I Know JUST how you feel. I am so glad you found him and everything turned out ok. It's a terrifying experience. Give Simon a cuddle for us!

Oh, I agree, snuggle that boy to pieces for all of us!!! I can only imagine your fear. And I hope you proceeded to beat the saw-weilder to a bloody pulp. :-)

How about some good pics of your camping trip?? :-)

Thank God for CRACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good bird Simon! Don't you scare mommy again! Scritch scritch to you!

What an scary adventure. Glad you had so much support. You know - even with the harness he might have been hurt trying to get away from the sound [hurt a wing or leg]

Maybe my idea of a trailer aviary is a good idea!

So glad he is OK.

Thank goodness you got him back. I too know the feeling of wondering if you'll ever see your baby again. Ugh! @_@

Thanks for all the kind words. It is always nice to know that I am not the only one who has had this happen to. He has a cage that goes in and out of the trailer but we were playing at the time. I could beat the saw wielding person as I know he didn’t do it on purpose (he was the first to come and help to look for Simon) and he had been using it all day. I am not sure why this time it freaked him out as it was quite a distance away. We are know working on the command of fly to mommy and seems to be working well. If he had landed somewhere that he knew I am sure he would have done what he normally does walk back but as he was in unfamiliar ground I am sure he was just so scared that he didn't answer for a time. Simon is no worse for wear but it has change me as I had never had him go more than a few feet before it wasn't something in my mind for him to do. Keke yes we worry about getting to high in a tree so she never goes without her harness (after landing on a roof requiring a ladder to get her down) and she is good about wearing it. I think Simon will be getting one just like hers for Xmas this year and we will have the winter to work on getting him to use it. The one I have he just won't go near and the Aviator harness seems to be a little more comfortable. We have lots of pics just have to find the time to post them. He is such a different bird at the campground normally won't say a word to people he doesn't know but up there he thanks everyone will give him goodies so he asks everyone he meets for some.

Yes lots of photos! ...hurry ...