It's so sad that so many people (not the ones on this forum of course!) think of birds as pretty, but dumb "decorations". They are highly intelligent and very in tune with their owners. Their higher level of intelligence gives them the ability to react to our emotional state and even to empathize with us.
I will not go into too much detail, but I had serious issues as a teen. I managed to hide a lot of things from everyone around me. My mom's DYH though (who took to me the day I was born) ALWAYS knew what was up, even when no one else did. She reacted too, in a very concerned and comforting manner. She is the definition of a loyal friend. I still miss living with her every day. She helped me through so much. I love Kiwi, but we do not share the same bond, though he too is very in tune with our moods, emotions and health.