My cousin and uncle bought a parrot together a few years ago. They absolutely loved it. My uncle would go out to get the mail with the thing on his shoulders every day. Then, about 2 years ago, my cousin passed away unexpectedly, and my uncle was heartbroken for the loss of his 26 year old son. Fast forward a couple of weeks, my uncle still is in mourning, but gets the courage to get the mail and return to a normal life. The bird was on his shoulders as usual. Out of nowhere, a hawk lunges at him and snatches him up from his shoulders. It all happened within an instant. The entire neighborhood must have heard his wailing. I shudder just to think about this unfolding.

For anyone with such pets, please don't drop your guard down, especially if you love your pet like a member of the family. Predators such as hawks and the occasional coyote or bobcat do roam cities and are closer to us than we're aware.

> down't drop your guard down

True that. I had a cat who was very good with dogs - it became an outdoor cat over time. Then one early morning, in the driveway right outside our bedroom window we heard a terrible fight which turned out to be a coyote trying to kill/eat our cat. I got out there in time to run the coyote off, but the cat died in mine and my wife's hands minutes later.

That morning I taught my daughter how to bury a pet which was incredibly tough, heart wrenching experience - but that's how closure works I guess.

We've had another great, sweetheart of a cat for years now - and she's also amazing with dogs. I still find myself waking up in the night to check that she's in the house.

PS. I don't blame the coyotes.

>as long as they didn't see a hawk

Last year we lived in a rental with a decent beach view. One afternoon our parrot spotted a kite surfer near the beach, and full-on froze rigid for 10 minutes until it went away.

We guessed that she thought it was some kind of massive hawk. Poor girl, must have been terrifying. Haast Eagle has been gone for a long time, but she doesn't know that.

Ha! Ours were the exact opposite, they would fly into the living room and scream their heads off for a while, but then would be on high alert for the rest of the day, getting spooked by any sudden movements.

I always use massively oversized cages and keep them by the window, which probably helps.

does it stand to reason that they would have preferred to be out there?