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Fred I know this is totally off topic.
iTulip will probably move it to Rant and Rave or to some other more appropriate area of this site. At least a few people will notice it here first though.
I grew up with an African Grey called Stanley (named after the African explorer and Journalist), who spoke English, Italian, French, plus his own dialect learned in the Congolese jungle. His phonetic abilities were nothing short of astounding. This bird was smarter than ayone would believe, and had a very high emotional cognition, just as this psychologist reports about Alex.
Our Stanley did not have the same specialised training, but I swear he showed almost the same levels of undeniable intelligence as Alex. All African Grey parrots are potentially at this cognitive level! When I say intelligence, I'm not using the term loosely. You could talk to Stanley, with almost the same degree of understanding on an emotional and cognitive level as you can with a two year old, or this astonishing champion bird, Alex.
African Greys are considered among the two or three smartest creatures in the world after humans. They are literally, right up there with Chimps and Dolphins (I have read that giant squids score very high as well!).
It is humbling to get to know an African Grey like this Alex, to the point of realising that what separates man from other animals is the thinnest of degrees of intelligence. Pay attention to the implications of the degree of spontaneous intelligence in Alex, and wonder - this is only a BIRD - but it is accomplishing higher cognitive tasks!
COPY PASTE THIS URL TO A WEB BROWSER WINDOW:
THE ALEX VIDEO IS THE THIRD LINK DOWN -
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1201/video/watchonline.htm
______________________
Alex the Parrot, an Apt Student, Passes Away
Enlarge
Mike Lovett
Alex the parrot was able to count up to the number 6 and could differentiate seven colors and shapes.
Enlarge
David Carter
Dr. Irene Maxine Pepperberg and Alex.
All Things Considered, September 10, 2007 · Alex the famous African gray parrot, renowned for the landmark cognition research conducted by owner Dr. Irene Pepperberg, Ph.D., has died at the age of 31. By learning elements of the English language to identify shapes, colors and sizes, Alex shattered the notion that parrots are only capable of mimicking words.
According to Pepperberg who is a faculty member at Brandeis University, Alex was able to identify 50 different objects, seven colors and shapes, and quantities of up to six. Alex also understood the concept of bigger and smaller and same and different. Pepperberg says they were in the midst of learning basic mathematics skills.
"This was a very amazing creature," she says.
Alex also had the emotional level of a 2-year-old child, Pepperberg says. After repeating some learning trials dozens of times, Alex would become tired and throw objects off the trays with his beak. When visiting the veterinarian, Alex would go back in his cage and slam the door.
How would Alex say goodbye? Pepperberg says that she imagines it would sound something like what Alex would say to her every night before going to bed: "You be good. I love you. See you tomorrow."
Related Stories on NPR
iTulip will probably move it to Rant and Rave or to some other more appropriate area of this site. At least a few people will notice it here first though.
I grew up with an African Grey called Stanley (named after the African explorer and Journalist), who spoke English, Italian, French, plus his own dialect learned in the Congolese jungle. His phonetic abilities were nothing short of astounding. This bird was smarter than ayone would believe, and had a very high emotional cognition, just as this psychologist reports about Alex.
Our Stanley did not have the same specialised training, but I swear he showed almost the same levels of undeniable intelligence as Alex. All African Grey parrots are potentially at this cognitive level! When I say intelligence, I'm not using the term loosely. You could talk to Stanley, with almost the same degree of understanding on an emotional and cognitive level as you can with a two year old, or this astonishing champion bird, Alex.
African Greys are considered among the two or three smartest creatures in the world after humans. They are literally, right up there with Chimps and Dolphins (I have read that giant squids score very high as well!).
It is humbling to get to know an African Grey like this Alex, to the point of realising that what separates man from other animals is the thinnest of degrees of intelligence. Pay attention to the implications of the degree of spontaneous intelligence in Alex, and wonder - this is only a BIRD - but it is accomplishing higher cognitive tasks!
COPY PASTE THIS URL TO A WEB BROWSER WINDOW:
THE ALEX VIDEO IS THE THIRD LINK DOWN -
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1201/video/watchonline.htm
______________________
Alex the Parrot, an Apt Student, Passes Away
Enlarge Mike Lovett
Alex the parrot was able to count up to the number 6 and could differentiate seven colors and shapes.
Enlarge David Carter
Dr. Irene Maxine Pepperberg and Alex.
All Things Considered, September 10, 2007 · Alex the famous African gray parrot, renowned for the landmark cognition research conducted by owner Dr. Irene Pepperberg, Ph.D., has died at the age of 31. By learning elements of the English language to identify shapes, colors and sizes, Alex shattered the notion that parrots are only capable of mimicking words.
According to Pepperberg who is a faculty member at Brandeis University, Alex was able to identify 50 different objects, seven colors and shapes, and quantities of up to six. Alex also understood the concept of bigger and smaller and same and different. Pepperberg says they were in the midst of learning basic mathematics skills.
"This was a very amazing creature," she says.
Alex also had the emotional level of a 2-year-old child, Pepperberg says. After repeating some learning trials dozens of times, Alex would become tired and throw objects off the trays with his beak. When visiting the veterinarian, Alex would go back in his cage and slam the door.
How would Alex say goodbye? Pepperberg says that she imagines it would sound something like what Alex would say to her every night before going to bed: "You be good. I love you. See you tomorrow."
Related Stories on NPR
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