I'm still quite the newbie when it comes to living with my pet bird, but also to be fair, I do feel I have a natural knack for it. Me and my husband are doing very well with his adorable green feathery butt - mostly because we feel that not only does he learn from us, but we learn from him too. Birds are a VERY different kind of a pet like that.
Little Simo is quite good with strangers and will even accept a treat from them, which prompted one person to want a pet bird of his own. This made me feel uncomfortable for a couple of reasons. They really, really shouldn't be a pet you take on a moment's whim. Even when we've had Simo for a year I can with honestly say that they take SO MUCH dedication and attention. They need your everyday care and love - one of the reasons I even believe hes doing so well is because I myself am at home almost all the time and he pretty much sees me do absolutely everything around the house, be it cleaning, cooking or even sleeping. We're in the same space all the time - and also due to my handicap I'm home like that. I myself consider birds to be exotic pets so they have their special needs too. I feel that life with him is INCREDIBLY rewarding, but also at the same time, I genuinely feel kind of twitchy about 'recommending' a pet bird to anyone.
Not only do you have to have a lot of patience, you have to know about your birds needs be it a budgie or a macaw. If you have more than one bird, you have to keep an eye out and make sure they get along. Is it odd I feel uncomfortable "recommending" a pet bird to people in general? Normally when I hear how someone wants a bird I start to ask them if they know the full extent of the care and dedication they need. Especially if the person wishes to get them because "Hey they talk and do tricks." If wish to put it in a lighthearted way, the creature you attempt to keep in a cage and make it talk is essentially a tiny dinosaur. I've heard about a lot of cases especially in the USA where someone will take a cockatoo on a whim and give it back a few weeks later because hey, it turned out to be an animal after all, and not a talking, dancing toy.
I also don't want to discourage anyone at all - but more like... enlighten people about the full responsibility that is a bird. "BUT I SAW A VIDEO OF A SWEETLY BEHAVING BIRD!" well, that bird and the owner probably have an amazing bond and it's owner has dedicated a lot of time and love to it. Is it strange that I think like this? Am I being terribly negative? I wouldn't change the time I've spent and will spend with Simo for ANYTHING, but regardless of my handicap, I feel I'm lucky that I get to be with him like that. I've only had him for a year, though, so maybe my observations could be wrong or too negative? What do you guys tell people who want a bird on a whim?