Many autistic people have trouble starting conversations, and might not pick up on the clues that you want to talk to them. If you want to talk to them, just go and do it! Don't worry if it seems awkward, since most autistic people are used to a little awkwardness anyway. Most autistic people have a few topics that they're particularly passionate about, and they love to talk about them if they believe you're interested. If you have questions about autism, it's okay to ask, but avoid asking questions such as "Can you fall in love?" or "Do autistic people have bellybuttons too?" since they are demeaning and rude. Don't ask an autistic person anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable asking a non-autistic person. If you aren't sure if a question is appropriate or not, look it up on the internet. That way, you can save your embarrassment for yourself as you realize that of course autistic people have bellybuttons, and you won't make anyone uncomfortable by accident. Since autistic people may not always pick up on social cues, you might have to be explicit, rather than dropping hints. Here are several things you can say to compassionately and politely set a boundary: "It's been nice talking about cats, but I'm a little tired of the subject right now. Could we talk about school or something else instead, and talk more about cats later?" "I need to go work on a project now, okay? I'll see you at dinner." "Well, I'd better hurry, so I won't be late for my meeting. Catch you later!" "I need some alone time right now." . Sometimes, people around an autistic person get caught up in therapies and training, to the point that they forget that the autistic person is a person with thoughts and emotions. Give your friend a chance to be understood. If you want to leave or do something else, it's best to be polite and clear. Politely get their attention and explain that you have to go. Autistic people may miss subtle signs that you want to leave. If you're talking about something that doesn't interest them, they might not know how to change the subject or let you know that they'd rather go do something else. If they act abrupt or leave unexpectedly, brush it off. They probably didn't mean any harm by it. It's too common for organizations and non-autistic people to treat autism like a blight or disease that must be "cured." Most autistic people just want to be loved, autism and all, and treated like equal human beings. Showing unconditional acceptance means the world to them.
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One-sentence summary -- Don't wait for the autistic person to start a conversation. Find some common ground. Keep your questions polite. Set boundaries as needed. Listen to them Be direct when you need to finish a conversation (if needed). Appreciate them for who they are.

You should train your bird to step up on your index finger. Place your index finger in front of it, say "up," and give it a treat every time it steps up. Practice this even when you aren't putting it back in the cage, so it doesn't assume that step up practice will translate into going back into the cage. In fact, sometimes you should put it in the cage and let it come back out, so that it does not know for sure that returning to the cage translates into a prolonged period of enclosure. You can try practicing with things other than your finger, includes sticks. Ladders can be particularly useful because birds naturally like to walk up them. Training your bird to do this can be an easy way to get them back into the cage. Because birds like to move upward, your bird will often grow fonder of this trick if you begin to lift your finger slowly after it steps up. Some people recommend that you perform this procedure every time you return your bird to its cage. The idea is that, if you allow it to fly back on its own volition it might come to believe that it sets its own schedule for outside time. Once you have it on your index finger, you need to secure your bird so that it can't fly off, but also so that it is still comfortable. One way to do this is to press your thumb lightly against your index finger, securing the birds feet to your finger. Alternatively, you can hold your other hand over its back gently, so that it will not be able to extend its wings out. You should practice these positions during regular training, so that your bird becomes accustomed to them and does not anticipate that it means a return to the cage. Also, if it becomes second nature, you will be less likely to forget to secure it and allow it to fly off when it is someplace foreign or dangerous. If you are having trouble controlling your bird, you can have its wings trimmed, permitting it to fly only a little or not at all, depending on how short they are clipped. This can, however, be counterproductive, because your bird will not tire itself outside of the cage and might be less willing to return.
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One-sentence summary --
Train your bird. Hold your bird so that it can't fly off. Ask your veterinarian about trimming your bird's wings.