Will my sun conure remember me

[Mm6393]

Hey..so unfortunately due to a family emergency, I will have to travel internationally for at least three months. I have a beautiful sun conure who I've been working on for about three or four months. She is finally able to trust me enough to pick her up, play with her, and keep her near me at all times. She's extremely friendly now and seems to favor me over anyone else she meets. Now my question is, will she still remember me when I get back. She will be staying with my best friend and I know she will be in great hands. But I'm so afraid that if I go, she will forget me and we will have to start from square one, which is okay but would hurt me emotionally haha. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Flboy]

Absolutely will remember you! I travel a lot and JoJo is good with it! Just remember you may be in for some crap when you first come back! Make sure you explain what is going on and for me, FaceTime works well!

 

[wrench13]

Absolutely will remember you. mybe a lttle pissed off at you, but yes. We had a quaker parrot for, oh 4 months, long time ago. Rehomed with a neighbor, and didn't see him for over a year. Saw him again at a block party we had, and yep, this parrot knew me and my kids. Just make sure you explain your absence to your Sunnie, and yes, it will make a big difference if you don't.

 

[LordTriggs]

yep birds remember lots

saw yesterday somewhere else a story of a wild bird (can't remember the species but it was huge) raptor style bird that someone helped when it was young. Now 20 or so years later the bird returns every now and then and actually hugs the person, wings open and everything. Their brains retain so much info you'd be amazed

 

[clark_conure]

Absolutely, he will remember you, it's a shame you have to separate;

Some fun reading: The last item #1 on this list 6 Animals With Better Memories Than You

and

This whole article: especially the first item 6 Terrifying Ways Crows Are Way Smarter Than You Think

Also see this post on here....

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/71723-huge-step.html the bird remembers it's previous owner (not a good one like you) and reacts.

 

[Kalel]

I have no doubt that she'll remember you. I left mine for about 3 weeks and he remembered me right away. I realize 3 months is longer, but I'm sure you won't be back at square one. What I find fascinating is that people are suggesting that explaining makes a difference. Wow! Really? Has anyone actually had experiences where if they explain then the bird is ok with it, but if you leave without explaining your bird gets mad at you? I am truly in awe if this is true. I did not know their grasp of human language was THAT advanced. I mean I said a quick goodbye to my Moonie, but I did not actually explain that I would be gone for weeks. It was like a normal goodbye.

 

[wrench13]

Kalel, bank on it. In addition to 2 weeks away, in CHina, I am often away for the weekend, playing music. If I dont explain to Salty that I ill be gone, but will be back, he is very pissed off at me and can be nippy. If I explain it to him, he is glad to see me. I dont think they understand time , like 2 days or 2 weeks but they can grasp that you'll be gone but coming back. My wife is home when Im away and he loves his mommy, no worries.

 

[Kalel]

Kalel, bank on it. In addition to 2 weeks away, in CHina, I am often away for the weekend, playing music. If I dont explain to Salty that I ill be gone, but will be back, he is very pissed off at me and can be nippy. If I explain it to him, he is glad to see me. I dont think they understand time , like 2 days or 2 weeks but they can grasp that you'll be gone but coming back. My wife is home when Im away and he loves his mommy, no worries.

Wow! Mind=blown! Thank you for this! I shall keep that in mind and see if it makes a difference in the way he acts. Mind you, he was not mad at me even though I didn't explain that I would be gone for a while. So interesting!

 

[JamesC]

Although your mind is already blown, I'll definitely agree with bird memories. My Blue Crown Tootsie was previously with my brother and his family. About 4 years went by since he had last seen her. We had a family event and he met me as I arrived and he opened the door on her side of my car and she immediately started this "muttering" noise that she does. She absolutely remembered him and allowed him to pick her up right away. She generally is not friendly with anyone else but me and him. It has now been about 10 years since he has seen her last and I'm hopeful that we can get together sometime soon and she will remember him again. Though she is getting elderly and a little screwy (even for her) so I wonder what she will do.

 

[LordTriggs]

I think it's less that they understand you're going, but associate the noises we make when we say "I'm going to be away for a while" with us going but coming back. No sudden abandonment. I'm sure in the wild they have calls for "I'm off to go find some food"

 

[Mm6393]

Wow, thank you so much for the replies! I'll make sure to explain it to her. I will miss so much though. Can't wait to see what she does when I get back lol

 

[LordTriggs]

well you may have to deal with a birdy tantrum when you get home!

 

[Wraith]

I do this every day when I go to school or work. I tell Ro I'm leaving but will be back soon, and she doesn't bite me or get nippy upon return. When I forget? I am in for some nippiness. I had to leave her for 3 days once, explained it as I was leaving and she was so excited and happy to see me. She remembered me and our usual routine!

 

[kittyp]

Had a dusky conure for almost 2 decades, spent 3 months overseas every year and she always remembered me. I was her favorite person though, she wasn't bonded as deeply to the rest of my family so she would be a little reserved around them but she still recognized them.

My uncle's Nanday was my bird for a year. He recognizes all of our footsteps and reacts differently depending on who it is. He chants my name when he hears mine. I see him for a combined total of maybe 2 months a year, he still remembers well. He also remembers I like to wear clothes with big pockets and tries to dive into one when he sees me, even if I'm not wearing clothes with pockets. Their memories can be very detailed.