I had Kady out for a ride today. He was not in his carrier and was enjoying watching the cars go by. He was having a blast laughing, bobbing his head and enjoying Moms undivided attention as we drove along.

We saw all kinds of birds, Blue Jays, a Sea Gull a few Sparrows and Crows. I watched for Kady's reaction to the birds he saw and basically there was no reaction, he just looked at them. Until.... we saw a Red Tail Hawk!! He saw the bird as it was off in the distance flying toward the car and he freaked! Every feather went up on his head and as the Hawk visually passed by the windshield he ducked. He was even to scared to say one of his favorite phrases, "What the heck is that?"

I was amazed at his reaction. While I certainly know that a Hawk would be deadly to him, I never suspected he would know what he was looking at. To see his innate instinct intact was amazing!

Karen,
Their instinks are amazing. Kinda the same thing happened about 4 years back with our Maxie. He was clipped and to our knowledge never flown . Maryann took him out front on a nice day just to say high to me. Here a Redtail was right across the street in a large tree and maxie saw him and paniced. Well he made it about 100ft down the street and 25 ft up hanging onto a branch hollaring Hellooooo to anybody he could see. We are sure he had know idea how he got their and no clue how to get down either. After a few tense moments we did get him down but it wasn't easy Drew a rather large crowd too

This doesn't surprise me, Karen. Buster hates crows. Anytime she hears a crow caw or chortle, she starts screaming and won't stop until we talk to her and calm her down or the crow goes away. She doesn't react that way to any other bird sounds or songs. She does yell hello to the conure flock that flies overhead in the morning, but that is the usual cockatiel "hi" chirp, not the panic whistle. These birds of ours know things we don't give them credit for.

Yeah, they know something for sure! My birds aren't the least worried about the rainbow lorikeets but they yell their heads off if they see a predator like a butcher bird or crow.

Sophie and Zoey react differently when we see a hawk while we are outside. Zoey "postures" and Sophie ducks under my chin.

Sophie loves the local Crows!! She calls back when they cah outside.

They really do have amazing instincts. soon after i got winkie i was baking cookies & he was by our big picture window in the back of the house. We have bird feeders out back & I was sweet talking him when a Cooper's hawk dive bombed 1 of the feeders. Winkie was scared SO badly that i was able to pet him without getting bitten & actually had to pry his feet off the bars. I never knew p'lets could grip that hard.

They are just so funny when they go for a ride. You should get a birdie car seat! My guys hate red trucks and hawks. I hate the people in the car next to mine pointing to the bird (nearly sideswiping my car!!)

I've considered the bird seat for short rides but I wonder how well Bella would stay on it.

ohhhhhhhh you should see my guys when a hawk comes on the big screen tv!
I have them taking off in all directions. thus the reason I dont advise keeing animal planet on for entertainment if you are not home!

Karen,
I took a photo of an owl a while back. I printed out the photo and have it sitting on my desk next to my computer. I keep forgetting about it and I've taken all of my birds to my computer with me. They notice the photo and immediately puff up! The photo is now turned around and facing the wall....until someone gets out of line.