When to give up on a late return?

General Discussion
1

Got a bird out from a training toss 10 days ago. 30-mile toss, should’ve been home in an hour.

Still leaving food and water out, keeping trap open. But is there a point where I should accept she’s not coming back?

How long do you wait?

2

I’ve had birds return after:

  • 2 weeks
  • 1 month
  • Even 3 months once

They can get taken in by someone, lost, injured, or just confused. Then find their way home later.

At 10 days, I wouldn’t give up hope. Keep the trap open, food available. Costs nothing to wait.

I usually “move on emotionally” after 2 weeks but keep practical measures in place for a month or more.

4

The record at my club is a bird that came home 4 months later. Thin but alive. Never knew where she was.

There’s no real deadline. Keep hoping until you have reason not to.