My cockatiel is acting really weird....?

Question

ive have my cockatiel geoffrey for a year now, everyday i let him out of his cage, and i always spend time with him. he never really seems like hes attatched to me. i always whistle to him but last night i was just sitting on the computer and he did the strangest whistle so i jumped and looked at him and then i thought about it and it sounded like when i whistle to him. so then i whistled and he did it back but that was it. i tried to get him to do it again but he wont. so i went to bed and shut off the lights and after awhile he started having like a night fright [[hes NEVER had one before]] so i jumped up and turned on the lights and talked to him and he finally calmed down so i turned off the lights and like 10 mins later he did it again! so i did the same thing over and he didnt get scared the rest of the night. so this morning ive mostly spent my time in my room and i went out once and he was just screaming his head off as soon as i went out. he only used to do this when we first got him but it wasnt this kind of scream. i really dont know whats going on with him. someone have any opinion.

no im not going to take him to the vet for something like this so DONT say that

Answer 1

My birds started having night frights again also. I have covered their cage halfway now not all the way. I also now leave a 25 watt night lite on. I tell him its time for nite nite. Once they start this it can sometimes become a game. They scream you run and they get attention and get to stay up for a while longer. Make sure its not that that he is doing. Also note if you have made any changes to the room at all. Even the smallest change can set them off to this type of problem. Good luck.  

Answer 2

Cockatiels are prone to night frights.  I have owned them for 30 years and of all the birds I've had, tiels are the worst.  The whistle thing is fine, sounds like he is starting to imitate you.   First, do you cover your bird at night?  That helps calm them down and tells them it is bed time.  Also check to make sure nothing is on or around the cage.  I have had outside cockroaches get into the room, or a spider, and while it is natural in the wild, tamed birds don't like it.  Also, I use a night light so there is dim light in their room all night.  Don't know where you live, but where I am we are prone to earthquakes, so I use a baby monitor at night so that if they have a fright I can go in there right away and calm them down.  My early warning system.