Parrot Proves It's No Birdbrain

[emad]

Parrot Proves It's No Birdbrain

02:00 AM Jul. 20, 2005 PT

At the ripe age of 29, Alex has mastered important tasks like counting to six, understanding that corn is yellow, and knowing the differences among a variety of shapes.

Call him a birdbrain if you must; he'll probably take it as a compliment. This is because Alex, an African gray parrot, is a prime example of birds' abilities to exhibit higher brain functions than humans usually give them credit for.

For the past 28 years, Alex has been under the care and tutelage of Irene Pepperberg, an adjunct associate professor of psychology at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Pepperberg, who grew up with common budgerigar parakeets as company, began her work after seeing early episodes of Nova that showed language work performed with other types of animals.

Pepperberg said she decided to work with gray parrots partly because they're known for clear vocalizations that make them great talkers. She currently has three of the endangered birds as research subjects, including Alex.
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,68226,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_5

[xchrom]

1. yeah! another step to understanding

it's about the animals native intelligence not ours.
too bad they have to prove it us -- but still it's another step forward.

[Shell Beau]

2. Birds are one of the smartest animals.

I wish my husband would let me have one. There is a Cockatoo for sale at PetsMart and I want her. I've been talking to her and playing with her every time I go in there. But at $2000.00, hubby said NO! x(

[ihaveaquestion]

5. Check into adopting an orphaned one.

Parrots frequently outlive their owners or are given up by people who haven't the time or patience to care for them. Try to find a parrot rescue organizaion near you (search the web) and start checking out their birds. They'll typically allow you a try-out period to see if you're compatable with a particular bird.

You might also check with your vet. They sometimes know of birds that need new homes and would know if they are "nice" birds or not.

Good Luck!

[Shell Beau]

6. Good idea! Thanks!

[TlalocW]

3. My friend has an African Gray

And the things he tells me that bird does is amazing. My friend lives in DC, and he'll normally walk to parks with the bird on his shoulder. Once he was sitting under a tree reading, and a couple's large dog kept approaching him and the bird and stopping several feet away to look at the bird before returning to his masters. The third time he did it, the bird started barking at him like another dog, which scared the crap out of it. It hid behind its masters the rest of the time they were there. It's also been known to mock cats sitting in window sills by dancing in front of them.

It also reacts to the video games my friend plays on the computer and will growl at the bad guys. Once, an unexpected bad guy popped up in a scary game causing this exchange:

Friend: "HOLY..."
Parrot: "ASS!"
Friend: *Pause* "Yeah, okay. That works."

TlalocW

[Shell Beau]

7. That is hilarious and freaking amazing.

Wow! :-)

[TlalocW]

8. This was his most recent conversation he sent me

My friend played a game until about 1 in the morning, and his bird was in her cage looking out the window.

Friend: What time is it?
Parrot: Morning.
Friend: What time is it?
Parrot: Morning.
Friend: Okay, you're technically correct, but that's not the answer the judges are looking for.
Parrot: Bedtime.

TlalocW

[Shell Beau]

9. Wow! Does he spend a lof time teaching the bird, or

do they tend to catch on easily?

[TlalocW]

10. I think this one is just catching on

Another time he burped, and the bird imitated him so they had a belching contest.

TlalocW

[Shell Beau]

11. Never ceases to amaze me.

A friend of my aunt's has a bird. The bird will catch the teenage girls arguing and the bird will reapeat "Shut up bitch" and other things. Truly amazing.

[RedCloud]

4. I knew this smart aleck South American parrot.

She easily picked apart her wooden lock,(not a wise choice by the owners!) got out of her cage and rambled on over to the parakeet's cage, pried open the metal latch, and then the emancipated parakeet was obligated to groom her.

When the lady of the house discovered that the parakeet was loose she gave it a paddling with a news paper and said "Vamos pa'entro carajo!"
(Get back inside you a**hole!). As I was renting a room down the hallway I saw the parrot somewhat mockingly laugh, got out of its cage again then opened the metal latch on the parakeet's cage. Then she went back to her cage to watch the fun. As soon as the parakeet wandered out of her cage, the parrot began squawking "Vamos pa'entro carajo, vamos pa'entro!)