"that Damn Bird"

**nikita69** · 10-16-2003, 04:59 AM

Rather than boring u with a very long article, below is the last 3 paragraphs. Here's the SOURCE

What nice/funny about this is that my bird is only 14 months and already can, choose/make a decision on, between 10 objects.

Griffen

Thus we are trying to get him to sound out refrigerator letters, the same way one would train children on phonics. We were doing demos at the Media Lab for our corporate sponsors; we had a very small amount of time scheduled and the visitors wanted to see Alex work. So we put a number of differently colored letters on the tray that we use, put the tray in front of Alex, and asked, "Alex, what sound is blue?" He answers, "Ssss." It was an "s", so we say "Good birdie" and he replies, "Want a nut."

Well, I don't want him sitting there using our limited amount of time to eat a nut, so I tell him to wait, and I ask, "What sound is green?" Alex answers, "Ssshh." He's right, it's "sh," and we go through the routine again: "Good parrot." "Want a nut." "Alex, wait. What sound is orange?" "ch." "Good bird!" "Want a nut." We're going on and on and Alex is clearly getting more and more frustrated. He finally gets very slitty-eyed and he looks at me and states, "Want a nut. Nnn, uh, tuh."

Not only could you imagine him thinking, "Hey, stupid, do I have to spell it for you?" but the point was that he had leaped over where we were and had begun sounding out the letters of the words for us. This was in a sense his way of saying to us, "I know where you're headed! Let's get on with it," which gave us the feeling that we were on the right track with what we were doing. These kinds of things don't happen in the lab on a daily basis, but when they do, they make you realize there's a lot more going on inside these little walnut-sized brains than you might at first imagine.

**razorsharp013** · 10-16-2003, 05:08 AM

Yeah, those African Greys are so terrific and incredibly smart. Best pet companian a person can have. Just as loyal as a dog, only smarter, just as cute and lovable as a cat, only even more conniving and clever. Just great!

**nikita69** · 10-16-2003, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by razorsharp013@16 October 2003 - 11:08
Yeah, those African Greys are so terrific and incredibly smart. Best pet companian a person can have. Just as loyal as a dog, only smarter, just as cute and lovable as a cat, only even more conniving and clever. Just great!

and just don't be on their bad side otherwise they can crush, if not cut, the finger OFF

**razorsharp013** · 10-16-2003, 05:15 AM

Klondike, the little grey I told you about, had a habbit of stealing silverware. We were always finding forks and knives on the bottom of her cage undder the paper. She actually hid the stuff! I'm telling you, don't turn your back for a second!

**wormless** · 10-16-2003, 05:17 AM

we got 4 zebra finches 2boys 2girls a boy n girl in each cage

**nikita69** · 10-16-2003, 05:20 AM

Originally posted by razorsharp013@16 October 2003 - 11:15
Klondike, the little grey I told you about, had a habbit of stealing silverware. We were always finding forks and knives on the bottom of her cage undder the paper. She actually hid the stuff! I'm telling you, don't turn your back for a second!

@razorsharp013-

@wormless - those are nice.

**razorsharp013** · 10-16-2003, 05:23 AM

@Nikita,

You might know this. After baking cookies or something, Klondike would sit right up on the side of the cookie sheet like it was no big deal. Do they have no feeling in their feet or something? Scared the sh*t out of me!

**nikita69** · 10-16-2003, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by razorsharp013@16 October 2003 - 11:23
@Nikita,

You might know this. After baking cookies or something, Klondike would sit right up on the side of the cookie sheet like it was no big deal. Do they have no feeling in their feet or something? Scared the sh*t out of me!

It's more of a personality issue than pain. Mine pratices flips/jumps on his back and if u were to see him ud say ouch.