[@21308] You have no idea how much I hate the term 'bird brain'. Corvids, parrots (and as I've recently discovered) toucans are INCREDIBLY intelligent (though some are smarter than others) and most people don't really understand my enthusiasm towards birds (or arthropods but that's a whole other can of worms), especially when I mention them as pets. Most people probably just kept a budgie in a cage all day and expected it to just sit there and look pretty. It's alarmingly common and is in no way healthy for the bird if they're kept alone. They're flock animals. 

I remember the day I brought my green cheek to school while waiting for my turn to preform in the school musical. Most people were actually scared of the poor thing, and it rubbed right off him...But a lot of people were suddenly fascinated and noticed how friendly and curious and sweet he is, and they opened their minds a bit to them.