Well, we got our first ever Conure a few weeks ago, he suffered no ill response to being "rehomed" from the pet store. He was totally walking all over us, looking out the window and even took a nap in the car on the way home...(It's an hour drive and I just couldn't stand to leave him in the little box the pet store put him in) He's TOTALLY SOCIAL! OMG! You can't believe how incredible he is, WAYYYY more social then our 2 tiels are and they're definitely friendly, but Franklin, our Conure...he's just definitely more interactive.
Years ago, I had a single Cockatiel, he was extremely bonded to me, I went on vacation for 5 days, I didn't have anyone to take care of him and I couldn't take him with me so I put extra filled food and water dishes in his cage and a treat stick and I and left. I was a little worried, but when I came home he was just fine...SUPER excited to see me and couldn't wait to get out of his cage, but totally fine.
I don't think I'd leave a bird any longer then 4 or 5 days without someone checking on them, and realize it IS a risk to leave them unattended as strange things can happen. They could potentially get tangled in a toy, or choke on seed or what ever you are feeding...but I think these are very rare possibilities.
Depending on where you are going, or what you are doing, you might consider taking your bird with you sometimes in a smaller travel cage, that way you can be together. Some birds really like to travel. However, leaving your bird for 3 or 4 days from time to time is something he/she can learn to adjust to.
So I guess, yes..they do tie us down a little bit, but I think there's more freedom with a bird then say a dog, that maybe needs to be let out or in or fed daily because they'll scarf through any extra food left...etc.
I think in a lot of cases, birds are much more resilient then some people give them credit for.
Good Luck, can't wait to see what you get!
Toni
