This African Grey Parrot is amazing!

[Abolishinist]

Hmm, I wonder, is there time to schedule a debate between Gizmo and Herschel Walker? I know who I'd put money on!

&t=7s

[spooky3]

1. Wonderful story! Thanks. Nt

[Karadeniz]

2. In my next life, when I'll have more time than what's left of this one, I definitely want a parrot!

[Abolishinist]

5. That's the issue, their potential lifespan can exceed 50 years.

We have an African Grey who is a complete joy to have around, she's around 48 years old. She doesn't have the vocabulary of Gizmo, but is quite talkative, and often when she says something we ask ourselves where did THAT come from? It's like, if you have 30 or common phrases, how is it that you picked THAT particular one at JUST the right moment?

She never ceases to amuse me.

[Karadeniz]

7. Have you read the biography of Alex by his trainer? Alex was trained to new ideas by two people

acting together and that's why he developed a sense of self as opposed to a mere mimic. That's what I want to apply! Example, one person asks the other person about a color, texture, number on a tray.
The other person responds correctly. This can be reinforced with variety. Alex learned to come up with a response that was his opinion.

Maybe my favorite Alex story involved a training session with another parrot, Alex as bystander. The lesson was numbers. Alex had his numbers down pat and he wasn't over the moon towards the other parrot. When student parrot just couldn't get the right number after many tries, Alex told him a number... the wrong one! Alex knew his numbers, but he wanted to make the other parrot look like an idiot!!!

[3catwoman3]

3. Did you ever see any of the footage of Alex the parrot and Dr. Irene...

...Pepperberg?

Alex was astonishing. He could identify colors, shapes, what material objects were made from, which objects were bigger than others, if food was warm or cold, and count up to 6.

Here are a couple of links:

https://alexfoundation.org/the-birds/alex/#:~:text=He%20possessed%20more%20than%20100,working%20on%20seven%20and%20eight (written)

(video)

[Abolishinist]

6. Thanks, I'm not familiar with Alex. There are a few parrots

"starring" in videos about them, but I haven't seen this one. I'll check it out when I have more time.

Speaking of Alex, this reminded me of the behaviour of our African Grey. A number of years ago we had three cats and a dog. She was familiar with their names, so sometimes she'd say "where's Alex", or "where's Oliver", etc. Or just call out their name, always with the first syllable stronger and higher pitched, then down on the remaining ones. We're down to one cat now, and for whatever reason, maybe cuz she's around 48, she hasn't learned her name.

[GreenWave]

4. My Gary would win!

"Back up dog!"
"Quiet pervert"
"Silence!"
"Get out of here"

And his killer phrase which he does not say except when one does not respond: "Would you like some time to think about it?"

[Abolishinist]

8. Is he an African Grey as well?

[GreenWave]

9. Indeed!

25 yrs old.

[zanana1]

10. The dog must be confused.

[nolabear]

11. Our Grey, Pidge, absolutely speaks in context and to create situations.

We’ve had her nearly twenty years. Some of what she says isn’t “correct” vernacular for the situation but it’s her vernacular. When anyone goes to the kitchen she wolf whistles and yells “Hi Pidge!” until we give her something. When we got her we had a dog named Joe that she’d call. When Joe died she never called him again. She imitates the air brakes of trucks and the Ring bell because she knows it makes the dogs bark. When we discuss the cat she meows. She loves the Emergency Broadcast system and when the first beeps happen she fills in the rest. She loooooves the phone and imitates multiple rings. When our son, who got lots of calls, was home, she’d make the phone ring and in my voice say “Hello?” (Pause) “Juuuustiiiin!”

She’s absolutely top of the heirarchy. We’re pretty sure she’ll outlive us so the kids had better get ready. 😄