Bizarre new habit?

It's been a while since I've posted here, but that's mostly due to a new full-time job and a generally busy life. Things have been pretty good, but my youngest bird, Maple, has picked up a bizarre new habit and I was wondering if anyone would offer insight to this matter.

Usually, at night, I cover my bird's cage with a blanket (it only covers the two sides that aren't facing a wall, so plenty of airflow.) Usually I don't bother with such things, but I've discovered that if I don't, Timcanpy likes to wake me up the moment there is any sort of light in the room whatsoever from the window. And I don't like waking up at 7am if I don't absolutely have to.

For the past few weeks, however, I've noticed that if I leave the room -at all- when the cage is covered, Maple will start crying out. It doesn't matter if I open the door and just take two steps out into the hall, go to the bathroom, or... anything, really. She'll keep it up until I step back into the room. It's particularly baffling because she can't actually SEE me leave or return, but so long as I am at least one-step inside my room, she'll immediately quiet down.

The extra bizarre part of this is that she doesn't do this during the daytime or when the cage is uncovered. (Daytime being about 9am forward, as that was the earliest I actually tested it without uncovering her.)

It could be just about ANY time after 10-11pm (usually when I cover them) but it will happen. 3am bathroom trip? Squawking. Midnight and I need water? Squawking. 5am and the cat wants out of my room? Cheep cheep.

Anyone have any ideas what triggers this and/or causes it? I tend not to respond to her because I don't want to encourage it, but I also don't want her to wake up everyone else in the house if I happen to need the bathroom in the wee hours.

as they're prey animals birds naturally sleep quite lightly to keep aware of their surroundings, leaving at night to go quickly sort something as needed is out of the norm in her eyes. So when you go towards the door she essentially snaps awake going "where you going!? This isn't right! Get back, please!"

As far as stopping it the easiest solution would be not to need to go out but of course it's not always possible haha, you could potentially mitigate at least getting water by buying a cheap mini-fridge and having a bottle of water in it at all times? Maybe try having a tiny corner facing out at the room open so she can peek out. Mine had that so he could inspect for any problems and it seemed to keep him quiet

I'd just ignore it for now, it's a conure. Conures want attention ALL the time, if his actions don't provoke a response he might give up on them....a "tough love" kind of approach. Mine used to squawk when I was going to work then realized it's just something that happens and he says goodby and goes to bed now.

When I leave the room in the middle of the night, I always do soft clucking sounds and I whisper to JoJo that I will be right back. The cat prowling around may be a bit unsettling!

I don't think it's the cats bothering them, if anything the cats avoid the birds because the birds don't put up with them. Maple adjusted to both my cats pretty quickly and doesn't seem to even care if they get up in her face to sniff her (if ever they are feeling brave.)

I've noticed she really only seems to do it in the morning if it's dark in my room and/or if the cage is covered. My best assumption is she thinks I'm going off alone at night, but it's still impressive how she knows the moment I step out of or into the doorway, even when covered.

I'm hoping it'll be a habit she drops, but until them I'm trying to make cooing noises as I exit to assure her I'm okay.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it or if it’s even an opinion? But, have you tried relocating the cage? Just remove it from your room.