I wonder if others have similar experiences...
Wild Patagonian males are reported to take turns being "sentinels" as flocks feed. They perch in high spots and alert those below to predators.
Wherever we live, I always make sure the Rickeybird has great windows with interesting views. The last two houses we've had... he has had a wonderful second-floor view of our front lawn, driveway, and a busy street with lots of foot traffic. So he has plenty to watch.
When he sees somebody pull into the driveway or walk up our sidewalk, he screams "AWWWWW AWWWWW AWWWWWW" which we (and our dog) recognize as heralding an arrival. And you can hear that anywhere in the house, AND in the backyard!!! The dog goes to investigate, and we get ready for a visitor. There are no false alarms, and rarely does he fail to announce anybody! It makes me happy to think he's able to act on that instinct.
One other funny thing about my little sentinel. When he's looking out his window, he announces (with a loud, indignant-sounding trill) when certain kinds of vehicles are nearby. He doesn't mind cars, trucks, motorcycles or bicycles, but if a golf-cart, or a fire-truck, or worse, a recumbent bicycle goes by, he seems to get extremely upset. Once, the power company had one of their extension-lifted-platform vehicles across the street and down two doors, and I thought he was going to lose his mind. When my husband and I are watching television downstairs, and we hear the TRILLLLLLLL, we look at each other and say "inappropriate vehicle" and just shake our heads.
Do your birds have such behaviors? I do provide sheltered/covered areas in his cage where he could hide from the problematic vehicles if he wanted to, but he doesn't. Am I missing anything, or is this probably just healthy sentinel behavior?
Wild Patagonian males are reported to take turns being "sentinels" as flocks feed. They perch in high spots and alert those below to predators.
Wherever we live, I always make sure the Rickeybird has great windows with interesting views. The last two houses we've had... he has had a wonderful second-floor view of our front lawn, driveway, and a busy street with lots of foot traffic. So he has plenty to watch.
When he sees somebody pull into the driveway or walk up our sidewalk, he screams "AWWWWW AWWWWW AWWWWWW" which we (and our dog) recognize as heralding an arrival. And you can hear that anywhere in the house, AND in the backyard!!! The dog goes to investigate, and we get ready for a visitor. There are no false alarms, and rarely does he fail to announce anybody! It makes me happy to think he's able to act on that instinct.
One other funny thing about my little sentinel. When he's looking out his window, he announces (with a loud, indignant-sounding trill) when certain kinds of vehicles are nearby. He doesn't mind cars, trucks, motorcycles or bicycles, but if a golf-cart, or a fire-truck, or worse, a recumbent bicycle goes by, he seems to get extremely upset. Once, the power company had one of their extension-lifted-platform vehicles across the street and down two doors, and I thought he was going to lose his mind. When my husband and I are watching television downstairs, and we hear the TRILLLLLLLL, we look at each other and say "inappropriate vehicle" and just shake our heads.
Do your birds have such behaviors? I do provide sheltered/covered areas in his cage where he could hide from the problematic vehicles if he wanted to, but he doesn't. Am I missing anything, or is this probably just healthy sentinel behavior?
I have just been reading your confession about your extra marital affair and I cant stop laughing LoL 
