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re: #377 lostlakehiker
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.
Some ‘Alex’ videos from YouTube:
