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I'm in Rhode Island. I got my Eclectus in November. From what I hear, this winter has been one of the coldest winters in many years. It's starting to warm up now (highs in the high 40's/low 50's Farenheit), but most days during this winter, the high was below freezing. He's been inside all winter so far, except for when I take him from the house to the car and back in his travel cage. I just warm up the car a few minutes before we leave and cover the cage with a towel or blanket for the short trip in between. We keep our house in the low 70s (I don't like to be cold.). He's been fine. From everything I've read and heard from talking to many different people, birds can do well in a variety of temperatures, assuming they have had a chance to become acclimated to them. I have heard of people keeping their bird rooms in the low 60's and even the mid 50's. The birds do fine in this temperature, because they got used to it slowly. I would not want to take a bird that has been in a 75 degree house and just throw it into 50 degree temperatures, but if it's a gradual change, they should be fine. Ideally, it seems that 10 degrees hotter or colder than their normal environment is ok. Anything more than that and it can start to be a shock to their system. So, I can't wait for it to get up to the low 60's here. As soon as it does, we're headed outside! :) Once it gets above the low 80's, I'll have to start making a point to go outside during the cooler hours of the day.
I would say that your bird will do fine in your house. You are obviously doing much more research than the average pet owner, and you obviously care very much and are very conscientious. A bird should do fine in those temperatures in your house. I don't know that I would want the temperature swinging from 65 degrees to 80 degrees everyday, but I doubt that will happen. If it's a gradual change over the course of the seasons, it's fine. As far as going outside with you, the consensus I've gotten from many people is the 10 degree rule...10 degrees above or below the regular temperature is fine. More than that might be too much. If your house is in the mid 60's now, I would say taking a short trip outside in mid 50's weather would be ok.
Good luck!
Danielle
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