brohandy wrote:How do most birds know to come right back when they fly out? I understand that they're like any pet, but is it something of protection or feeding that birds can just understand?
The don't, thats why people use harnesses, travel cages, aviaries etc. Birds that escape usually get lost so alot caution is needed to prevent that happening. A few lucky owners get their bird back in those instances but an awful lot don't so it's really not worth the risk of taking a bird outside without a secure method of restraint (that doesn't mean clipped birds as they can fly in the right circumstances, especially when outdoors)
is conditioned for outside he sometimes hitches a ride on a kids back when he knows i'm outside he flies to me and i put him in his outdoor cage.my 
was outdoor freeflighted,i was young and didn't know better when i got him,fortunatly it worked for many years.make sure you get some kind of travel cage and harness trained to get your bird used to the outside.