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A question...

Can cockatiels tell length of time? For instance, if we are gone for hours and hours, do they know the difference between hours and minutes? Or days?

I was wondering because I went away for a few days and had my friend come in. I was wondering if Casper knew that we were gone longer than our average work day.

All I know is when I walk out of the room, it takes about a second for her to screech!!!!

And if you know the answer to this question, how do you know? Did you ask your cockatiel??? Casper won't tell me!

I have always heard that animals know no sense of time. I don't know if there is any truth to that, it's just what I have always heard. To an animal, 15 minutes is the same as 5 hours. I know that they know schedules because my cat will beg for food at the same time each day and Sherwin will start chirping if I sleep any longer than 8:00 on the weekends!! I have thought about that before when I have had to board him. I was so worried (after day 3 on vacation) that he was thinking in his little yellow head that I was not coming back to get him!

Awww, I had to go on vacation for one week----I didn't worry too much that he thought we weren't coming back-----he was in a good home with good people and I called to check on him every day. Woody did great while we were away---didn't seem to mind a bit, but I could tell when we got back that he was looking at me as if to say----hey, she's back! He knows it's me because I am the only one who knows all his whistles and songs----we spend lots of time immitating each other!

The only reason I worry about leaving Sherwin is because he was abandoned and rescued prior to me adopting him. Woody is lucky to have such a great mom!! Every time I have left him and come back he has been sooooo excited to see me. It's such a nice feeling, you know! It just popped in my head that it will be a year on Monday that I have had Sherwin! Wow - time flies!

Happy Anniversary Sherwin and Noel!!!

I do love it when you walk in the door and they get all excited. If I come home and I have too many things to carry all at once, I will go back out to the car. Well, the cage is in view of the door, so she sees me come in. I go back out for the second trip and she starts to SCREECH! She doesn't do it when I leave the house, but when I come home and go back out, she makes as much noise as possible!!

I just love being missed when I am gone!!! Makes me feel so loved!

Thanks Lisa!! Not to get off the subject, but the Shermonster is having his picture made tomorrow! I hope they turn out OK and he sits still on the perch! Isn't that funny.....a birdy portrait! I'll share once they are ready.

YES, you have to share that photo!!! Can't wait to see it.

I once took my dog to sit on Santa's lap at the local SPCA. I was thinking of doing that with Casper, but never got around to it.

I don't know for sure about the intervals of time, but I do know they tell time by circadian clocks, and sunrise and sunset are within just a couple of minutes difference when they start screeching and whining to go to bed. I recall a trip I made to TX last May, and I was gone for 4 days, leaving Smokey and Coco with Emi. (wife) I of course called home several times, and would get Emi to put the phone on speaker so I could holler at the kids. From what Emi told me, Smokey knew I was gone somewhere other than just out for a couple of hours, and showed it. Just a gut feeling, but it may not be so. Routines are so hard coded into their lives, it may just be the disruption of a routine that lets them know something ain't right ! Being what it was, when they heard my voice on the phone, they knew it was me, but were puzzled why they heard me but not see me.

I think they can figure out time by the sun rise /set and just by watching our daily rountines to what is expected.Certain times of day they are more lively than other. certain times are nap time or yum-yum time...Even if you don't have a watch with you you can figure out appx what time it is...

I don't know about the time telling but last Friday night I came home from work, changed clothes and went to my mom's. I usually don't go out on Friday nights. Mike went to his mom's also. Mike got home before me and he said before he got out of the van he could hear all 3 birds screaming like they'd been abandoned!!! They may not know time but they sure know schedules!!!

Boston hit it right on the head. all animals judge the time of day by the postion of the sun and moon you all probley noticed around midday how our little guys take naps. rember us humans before the watch was invented did exactley the same, we used the position of the sun to gage the time remember a device called the sun dial.

Hello all, I know I am new to this group but I wanted to chime in with my 2 cent I have heard that birds are not able to tell time, but much like everyone has already said, my Rosie and Morrison tell time very well. I hear Morrison singing in the morning and during sunset at night. Rosie gets so excited when anyone in my family comes home, it does give you a good feeling

So I guess the group agrees that they can tell the time of the day but not how many days have actually passed. With Casper, it doesn't matter if I am gone for 8 hours or 5 minutes to the store, she is all excited when I get home. I love that!!! Nice to be wanted!!!

I could not agree more!!

I can't remember who it is on upatsix who has a bird that when the sun goes down the bird says "AW SHUCKS" for about an hour!!! I laughed so hard when I read that.........I about peed my pants!!! HEY! I'M AN OLD WOMAN.......IT CAN HAPPEN!!!