I hope you're able to catch him tomorrow Donna! How frustrating to have been that close to getting him! I've had tons of success using this box method to trap wild kittens, but I can't even imagine trying it with an adult bird- not quite as simple!

Thanx Camille....I would have had him..yikes! I checked the box and the back corner was warped from the sprinkler system the night before. So when I pulled the string and the box fell the back corner stayed lifted...just enough for Abi to escape. Such a smart bird he is! I never noticed it because it was the back corner of the box. Will try again tomorrow with a bigger wider box.

The wing is injured, this could have happened while trying to escape.
Once contained Abi will need to go in for a check up, it maybe a good idea to check around for an avian vet.
Please don't use the bowl, simply a handful of seed.
Good luck
Arty

Thanx Arty....I just looked in the yellow pages and there are no Avian vets in my area. The closest is up in Jacksonville. I am trying to locate a Wildlife Rehab Center. I am more likely to find one of those in my area. I am in a rural area...nothing much around here. Hope I catch Abi today. He might have gotten spooked by the box yesterday. This bird has no tail and an injured wing and he flies off every night. I can see he is going to be real tough to trap. I also see rain for the next four days starting today.
I will keep praying for him....

Donna I hope you catch Abi today also!! We have rain here also, and the temps at night seem to be cooling off with this cold front moving in. They said around here the night temps will be down to around 63 or so. I know you will do your best to catch him, I will say a little prayer that you do. Please keep us updated

Any luck Donna?

He went to the grass side today and was eating probably old leftover bird seed from his dish from a couple of weeks ago that I threw. It is going to be tough to trap him I can see! When he is up on that canopy he used to dance around and coo at me. He still does but now he runs at my face and if my hand is on the canopy he runs to attack and peck! Funny! He is protecting his domain there now. Will post IF I get him. I do not think he is going to go back to that box again. He would have to be pretty hungry. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Thanx again Arty!

No luck, Abi is going by the grass side...avoiding that box!
I was tempted to snag him on the canopy this morning.....he runs at me now and comes very close to my face...I was going to try to get him with a sheet but he is higher than my arms and by the time I got the sheet near him....he is quick and would fly off. Now I am at a loss of what to do. I removed the box before, it is rainy here today and for the next couple of days. It is just amazing how he is able to fly with no tail feathers and an injured wing and somehow he finds his way back here every morning.

Where he is that mobile, and so cagey about the trap, it may not be possible to do much at this point. You may have to let nature take her course, Donna, while keeping an eye open for opportunities for capture. Do what you can to provide for Abi, and we'll all keep hoping and praying for him to heal.