Your home is full of many things that can be toxic to pet birds.  One of those things is non-stick cookware.  The fumes put off by cooking with non-stick cookware at high temperatures can kill your pet bird, who is much more sensitive to those toxins than you are.

The component used in non-stick cookware, polytetrafluorethylene, emits a toxic fume when overheated.  Even if your bird is in another room of the house, enough of the fumes can travel to it to cause fatal results. 

It isn’t practical to replace all of your non-stick cookware, but you can take steps to help reduce the risk of death to your birds.  First, never overheat your cookware.  If you are cooking a stir-fry or other high-heat meal, use a different type of pan.  It is worth the investment for those times you know you will be using high heat.  Also, be sure to ventilate your cooking to the outside.  Most ranges have hoods that vent the fumes outside, so you can turn that on or open windows in your kitchen.  Lastly, situate your bird in an area that is furthest away from the kitchen.

If you are able to, replacing your pots and pans is the most effective way to eliminate the risk to your birds.  Stainless steel is an excellent replacement that gives great cooking results and poses no risks to the health of your family, feathered or human.

While all of this may seem like a lot of hassle, the reality of losing your beloved bird from something that is preventable is a much more difficult thing to deal with.