Book review - "Alex & Me": story of a remarkable bird and the woman who loved him

nwsource. ^

[JoeProBono]

Scientist Irene Pepperberg was about to board a plane for Tucson, Ariz., when a peevish reservations clerk refused to let her on with a bird cage. No matter that her avian companion, "Alex Pepperberg," the famous African Grey parrot, had his own ticket — and the papers to prove he was a valuable research subject and TV celebrity.

"And I suppose you ordered him a meal?" the agent sniped, after being overruled by a supervisor.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did," Pepperberg said without missing a beat. "He's getting the fruit plate."

[JoeProBono]

Pepperberg's groundbreaking research on two-way communication between parrots and humans would transform the pejorative "bird brain" from a catcall into a compliment.

Alex eventually mastered more than 100 English words and learned to count, recognize shapes and colors and identify materials like wool, wood and paper. Before he died, he and Pepperberg began working on his perception of optical illusions, which, it turned out, was much like that of the human brain.

"Alex & Me" treads some familiar territory. The professor — who teaches animal cognition at Harvard University and works out of a laboratory at Brandeis University — published her academic work, "The Alex Studies," in 2000. Media reports on Alex abound: Perhaps nothing's more convincing, though, than watching Alex do his stuff for Alan Alda on the TV series "Scientific American Frontiers." (Clips are available on YouTube.)

[buffyt]

That little girl last week who was choking and her babysitter didn’t hear her and their pet bird kept yelling BABY CRY BABY CRY or something like that. Saved the girl’s life.

[buffyt]

November 20, 2008

Willie, a 1-year-old talking parrot, called out for help when a Colorado toddler was choking, thus saving her life nearly two weeks ago. (Pet Pulse Photo by John Parker)
DENVER — A choking toddler’s life has been saved, her parents say, because one chatty green parrot knew just when to speak up.

Willie, a Quaker parakeet, was left alone in the room with 2-year-old Hannah Kuusk two weeks ago. As the babysitter, Megan Howard, who is also Willie’s owner, was in the bathroom, a near tragedy began to unfold on Friday, Nov. 7.

“I started hearing Willie go wild,” Howard said. “He started screaming and flapping his wings. There was serious panic in his voice. Like I’ve never heard before.”

“I heard Willie say ‘momma baby, momma baby,’ “ Howard said. “I knew something was wrong.”

When Meagan rushed back in the room, she could see Hannah at the kitchen table, with her back to Willie, and her lips and face were turning blue. She had been eating a Pop Tart and was choking on a piece.

“And the second I got Hannah down off the chair and started doing the Heimlich, he stopped screaming,” Howard said. He knew it was going to be OK after that.”

And it was. Just a couple of minutes after Hannah coughed up the Pop Tart, she was running around the room like nothing had happened.

Howard and Willie the parrot hero were staying with the Kuusk family in Denver, where she and Hannah’s mother, Samantha Kuusk, are studying to become veterinary technicians.

“This is by far the most amazing thing I’ve witnessed,” Samantha Kuusk said. “I don’t want to think about what may have happened had Willie not been here.”

Howard got Willie when he was just a baby and has since taught him about 20 words. The Quaker parakeet, also known as a Quaker parrot, is known for its vocal and conversational abilities.

While Willie had said “momma” before, the first time he said “baby” was when Hannah was choking. He hasn’t said it since.

“They’re more than just property,” Kuusk said of pet birds. “They have feelings, and they can sense when something is good, and when something is wrong.”

The experience appears to have changed Willie, who now keeps a very close eye on Hannah. He only sleeps when she sleeps and stays awake when she’s up.

Howard appreciates having another parental figure around the house.

“I thank God that Willie was here with me,” Howard said.

For more on Quaker parrots like Willie, or other birds, visit Aviary.com.

Tell us what you think about “Talking Parrot Saves Choking Toddler’s Life” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

[JoeProBono]

Alex

[JoeProBono]

[Flycatcher]

I'm a hardcore birder who gets out in the field and birdwatches at every opportunity. At first, I was amazed at the myriad displays of avian intelligence I witnessed. I'm not amazed anymore. Birds are extremely intelligent animals. We underestimate them to our own detriment.

Great post.

[JoeProBono]

Smart bird

[Twinkie]

I’m afraid our cat, Stuffy, only looks at birds as DINNER. I have to admit, though, that a talking bird would be nice, except it might pick up some not so nice stuff around here!

[El Sordo]

Cool.

[rlmorel]

I went to the wedding of a friend’s daughter a couple of years ago, and ended up sitting next to Ms. Pepperberg (at the table where they stick friends of the parents who don’t know anyone else) I had no idea who she was at the time, although I had heard about the parrot.

It made for interesting table conversation...:)

[JoeProBono]

Stuffy?

[CE2949BB]

I'm pretty sure I've heard of Alex before. The book sounds interesting.

I'll always be a dove guy, tho.

[JoeProBono]

[BnBlFlag]

Ping!

[JoeProBono]

She remembers and says hello

[hampdenkid]

I had a Doberman for 11 years who was FAR superior in intelligence, deportment, and character that almost anyone else I know in the town where I live. That’s actually true.

[JoeProBono]

Goodbye to Alex a gifted parrot

[JoeProBono]

[hampdenkid]

Thanks for the pic. It brought tears to my eyes. I lost Baron about four months ago, and I would rather have died myself.

[Othniel]

When Mrs. Othniel and I were first married, I had a parakeet. My wife said that even before she could hear my car pull up, the bird would start chirping and looking around, then me with a whole lot of whistles when I walked through the door.