re: #294 albusteve

will I still get a parrot?…
you’re certainly right tho
thanks

Speaking of parrots, there’s a story there about deep Platonic attachments across species. It can go both ways. Alex and Me, by Irene Pfefferberg, recounts the story of a scientist and her primary research subject, an African Grey’s parrot [Alex] who learned a lot of more-than-tricks.

Sample: How many green squares, Alex? (Shown a tray with 3 green circles, 4 red triangles, two green triangles, 2 green squares, 1 red square, 2 blue stars, a blue square, etc.)

Answer. 4

No, Alex.

Answer: 5.

No, Alex. You’ll just have to go in your cage. [“Time Out” ensues]

From within the cage: “I’m sorry. Two.”

Absolute tear-jerker of an ending.

Taking a parrot as a pet is a real responsibility. As much so as with a dog. You have a social animal with a rudimentary knowledge of right and wrong, a capacity for loyalty and attachment, and an astonishing ability to think, considering the tiny brain it has to work with.