Fear

So a few years ago, when I was away for the weekend, my trusted roommate accidentally let mango outside. Luckily, the story ended well and mango ended up back in the house in less than an hour. It was november is northern Wisconsin, and about freezing at the time. The worst part about it was the sickening fear as I drove home 4 hours knowing that my little girl needed me and I couldn't be there for her.

Anyways, now whenever I leave for the weekend , which isn't super often, I worry about her constantly and have nightmares about leaving her a few days leading up to the trip. I always have someone to come over and be with her, and having a roommate who loves her too helps her feel comfortable with me and my husband being gone.

Anyone else experience this? Sometimes I just look at her and get scared for her. She is so small and fragile. I do everything I can to protect her, but I am just so afraid of something happening.

Not sure what I'm looking for here. Just some understanding maybe.

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Oh I love this picture!
Yes I understand!! When I'm away my best friend bird sitting can expect three calls a day for reassurance that my birds are a ok.

I'm like this with all my critters. When I have to leave them even for a couple of hours. I totally get where you're coming from.

I'm pretty sure my husband just thinks I'm nuts. He loves her too, but not the same way I do.

By the way, the look she's giving me in that picture is the trick she uses to steal food. She will look up at the ceiling and wait for me to look up and look for the bug and she's staring at, and then fly away with a mouth full of banana bread.

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Going out on a limb here (I don't want to upset any daddy parronts) but I think there is something about the fragility of fids that brings out the crazy momma bear instinct. Hubby and I both love Sass, but I am sure I'm so over protective it borders on insanity. She is just larger than life, but so darn fragile at the same time, it even makes me more protective! And their silly manipulativeness is also so very "human" child like! Just the look on her face in your picture....all big eyes and innocence. And yet you know that she knows that she has you wrapped around her little talon!

Yes. 100%. That’s why whenever possible I bring her with me when I’m going to be gone. I was just looking at her last night and marveling about how very tiny she is.

And that’s an EXCELLENT trick! Haha!


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I have always been fraind for Alex, but as he gets older I get more frantic about it. I know one day I will have to live without him, but my little yellow shrieking grumpy bird has seen me thru so much.. I wish they lived longer. Even if nothing tragic happens to him, Alex is 17.5 years old. Oh why can't cockatiels and other parrots live forever?

Your apprehension is quite common and well understood here! Before retirement I'd leave for 3 to 4 days per week, return home with about 4 days off. I learned to temper my anxiety but it was always present. Fragility and propensity for accidents likely drives much of your concern.

Besides having a trusted caregiver in your absence, have you tried Face-Timing or Skyping? Birds are highly reactive to video screens and absolutely recognize images.