Cockatiel nesting on me?

[Tielw/Tude]

Hi,

First post here. I've got a 9 month old, hand-raised cockatiel. He's been nesting in a milk crate and in various crevices, and also carrying tissues and papers into his cage. It took me a little while to realize why he was more interested in papers and tissues than he was in his toys.
Frequently, though he'll bring a tissue up to my shoulder and just drape it there for a bit, then drop it on the floor. He also brought along a coin a couple times. He's also dropped some coins in his cage and water dish.

Does this have anything to do with the nesting instinct, or am I just a handy playpen/perch for him?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[Zara]

Welcome to the Avenue Curt

@Tiel Feathers @Birdbabe

 

[SeñorBirb]

@Sunni Tiel

 

[Sunni Tiel]

Welcome!

It sounds like he's just playing and bringing you gifts. Is he showing any other courting or mating behavior?
Take away anything he could think of as a nest, discourage nesting.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

I would take away the milk crate and any nesting sites, since it sounds like your bird is getting nesty. Bringing a tissue to you seems like just playing. What do you mean by coins?

 

[Birdbabe]

Hes, if hes a he,,is bringing you gifts to impress you, my IRN does that...I also had a roadrunner at the wildlife rescue who would bring me gifts...not the kinda gifts most people would want,,,..we even had a cactus wren here smitten with my female teil, he saw her through the window and brought her twigs, food, feathers,,I guess its a male thing..??