Weekend road trips, feather style

Have you ever traveled with a conure—or any pet bird, for that matter? Then you already know that a road trip comes with its own soundtrack: singing, squawking, feathers flying, snacks being stolen, poop mysteriously appearing where poop absolutely should not be, the occasional ear nibble, and enough neck cuddles to make you wonder if you’ve accidentally brought along a tiny, feathered toddler.

We decided on a last-minute trip to the mountains and, rather than board our two conures, decided they needed a little getaway too. Because apparently, when you have birds, “spontaneous mountain vacation” can also mean “let’s see what happens when we put two tiny raptors in the car.”

We loved the looks we got from passersby when they noticed our birds peering out the side windows. I’m sure some people thought they were seeing things. Others probably wondered if they had accidentally driven into the middle of a very unusual parade.

And then there were the people who noticed Tico was helping with the driving.

Well… “helping” may be a generous word.

Speaking of the steering wheel, Tico discovered that she absolutely loved hanging onto the wheel cover whenever we went around a turn. To her, apparently, this was not a car ride—it was a private carnival attraction. She would cling to the wheel, swing with the turn, and squeal with pure delight the entire time.

Meanwhile, I’m pretty sure the rest of us were just trying to survive the ride.

But Tico? She was having the time of her life. Five stars. Would ride again.

Now imagine your feathery little travel companion making a great escape at Starbucks in search of a pup cup… because apparently, everyone deserves a treat when they’re on vacation. And yes—believe it or not, you can actually put a harness on a bird!