Alex, the most amazing African Grey....May he rest in peace. NVR
For those of you who love birds and were not aware... Alex, the most amazing African Grey passed away September 6th, 2006. At the age of 31.
Irene Pepperberg is famous for her studies on Grey's. She proved that Grey's have the emotional stability of a two to three year old child. The intellect of a 3 to 5 year old.
Alex was the reason I got Biko.
On the night before Alex passed away, he said to Irene. I love you. See you tomorrow. Totally breaks my heart as the care giver of a most amazing Grey.
OK, I am a huge wimp but I am still crying about Alex's passing. He touched my heart.
I hope you will all check out this website. http://www.alexfoundation.org/
Alex was one in a million. A parrot bought at a pet store because Dr. Pepperberg didn't want a 'special' Grey.
Alex taught the world many things.
I didn't hear of his death in September but I have since read that some news anchors broke down when telling about his passing.
Being the 'mom' of a Grey, I have ordered many items from their website. As well as giving a donation for the studies to continue.
The item I am most excited about is the pendant. My dear sweet Biko has something in common with Alex. The red feather on his neck. The pendant has a ruby in the neck area. Also my birth stone.
Please do take a minute to check out the website and see the work that has been done. Dr. Irene Pepperberg truly has made a difference to this world. And if anyone calls you a bird brain. Thank them.
Many of you might have seen Alex on the PBS special, 'Look Who's Talking'. If not, rent it.
May dear sweet Alex rest in peace. For parrot lovers (and budgies are in the parrot family) know that Alex made this world a better place for parrots and that Dr. Irene Pepperberg made this world a better place too.
Although Irene Pepperberg will never see this, I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart. As well her staff and the many students that have passed her way.
Alex is sorely missed. His little soul lives on! Actually his large soul. If one little African Grey could touch the world, maybe there is hope that we can all touch the world in some small way.
To Alex. RIP. I loved you although I never knew you except from TV, articles and the book I have. You touched my heart and soul. You made me appreciate parrots and birds in general. Your passing is totally devastating. I am so glad you had Irene and many people that loved you. I know they are grieving as I have been in touch with them. May we all learn from you. You were a 'bird brain'. We should all be so lucky. I am so glad you passed peacefully. I miss you! God speed! I hope one day I meet you. Thank you for making me understand my beautiful Biko. You have been an inspiration to the world. You were just a 'pet store' bird. You will never know what you did and how many people you touched. Rest in peace dear sweet Alex. I miss you as if you were one of my own dear sweet companions.
Please do check out the Alex Foundation.
As well, please hug and kiss all your critters today. Dr. Irene Pepperberg is one of the good ones. Someone who has devoted her life to loving a little African Grey from a pet store and proving their intelligence. More so loving Alex.
My ex has an African Grey and I still tell stories about him (the bird, not my ex). He was such a funny bird and one day I hope to have one of my own. I think birds are so cool and smart and funny. They really are like having a small child (no offense to people who have small children). I don't think I was aware of Alex. Is Biko an African Grey?
My ex has an African Grey and I still tell stories about him (the bird, not my ex). He was such a funny bird and one day I hope to have one of my own. I think birds are so cool and smart and funny. They really are like having a small child (no offense to people who have small children). I don't think I was aware of Alex. Is Biko an African Grey?
Yes Biko is an African Grey. Biko has/had something in common with Alex, a red neck feather. It is only a Grey's tail that is red.
Biko will be 18 in June.
They truly are wonderful birds.
My ex has an African Grey and I still tell stories about him (the bird, not my ex). He was such a funny bird and one day I hope to have one of my own. I think birds are so cool and smart and funny. They really are like having a small child (no offense to people who have small children). I don't think I was aware of Alex. Is Biko an African Grey?
Yes Biko is an African Grey. Biko has/had something in common with Alex, a red neck feather. It is only a Grey's tail that is red.
Biko will be 18 in June.
They truly are wonderful birds.
My ex's African Grey didn't have a really good vocabulary but he could make the funniest sounds! He got to learn the sound of the microwave beeping, so even if you opened the microwave door he would hear it and make the sound of it beeping. He also somehow picked up how to make a fart sound (I think I left Howard Stern on the radio too many times). So he would "fart" and we would laugh. He eventually learned that making that sound made us laugh so he would "fart" and then he would laugh! Over and over! My ex and I would be cracking up in the next room listening to him.
My ex has an African Grey and I still tell stories about him (the bird, not my ex). He was such a funny bird and one day I hope to have one of my own. I think birds are so cool and smart and funny. They really are like having a small child (no offense to people who have small children). I don't think I was aware of Alex. Is Biko an African Grey?
Yes Biko is an African Grey. Biko has/had something in common with Alex, a red neck feather. It is only a Grey's tail that is red.
Biko will be 18 in June.
They truly are wonderful birds.
My ex's African Grey didn't have a really good vocabulary but he could make the funniest sounds! He got to learn the sound of the microwave beeping, so even if you opened the microwave door he would hear it and make the sound of it beeping. He also somehow picked up how to make a fart sound (I think I left Howard Stern on the radio too many times). So he would "fart" and we would laugh. He eventually learned that making that sound made us laugh so he would "fart" and then he would laugh! Over and over! My ex and I would be cracking up in the next room listening to him.
They certainly do make one laugh!
Biko does the microwave beep too. I used to think my food was done and it wasn't. He now does the ring on my cell phone and I go to answer it.
When I had little dogs, every time the doorbell rang, three dogs barked. I only had two dogs. He is not a bird, he is a boy. When he hears the birds outside, he says, 'Where are the birdies'. He never refers to himself as a bird. He refers to himself as a boy.
He tells me to be a good boy when I go out. What's with that?
I used to kiss him and sometimes make the fart sound. So he sometimes says, kiss?...and makes a huge kiss sound. Other times he says kiss, and makes a fart sound.
Someone owned him but then decided parrots were too much work and returned him to a pet store. I worked at the store only selling supplies and doing cash. I said I wouldn't sell dogs or cats. I worked on weekends so that I could afford to buy Biko. I got him when he was 15 months old. He is one spoiled and very much loved 'boy'.
I only have a budgie, which y'all know about, but his vocabulary amazes me more and more. You have to listen, because since his syrinx is so small he doesn't speak clearly sometimes. It's not the phrases we try to teach him he comes out with, just what he hears in passing.
The other night I was on VW chat and the bird was next to me muttering away the way budgies do in the evening. Suddenly I heard him mumble, "Oh why don't you just shut up." I still can't figure out where he got that, as it isn't part of my regular vocabulary! I have been known to yell "Hush, lovey!" when he's making noise during a class...but that, he doesn't say.
I don't have birds (too many cats!) but I read about them alot and I am amazed by them. RIP Alex.
Have any of you read The Parrot Who Owns Me by Joanna Burger? I loved that book. Also are you all familiar with Nkisi? You can read about him here http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/. There's a link to him talking further down the page. He was one of the subjects of the Animal Planet special "When Animals Talk."
I don't have birds (too many cats!) but I read about them alot and I am amazed by them. RIP Alex.
Have any of you read The Parrot Who Owns Me by Joanna Burger? I loved that book. Also are you all familiar with Nkisi? You can read about him here http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/. There's a link to him talking further down the page. He was one of the subjects of the Animal Planet special "When Animals Talk."
Thanks for the link shiraz! I think I have the book you mentioned but as I am renovating, books got put in boxes. Can't wait for my place to be finished. I will have much reading to do.
Happy caregiver of 1 African Grey, 1 dog, 4 cats and 4 budgies. :-)
Please, tell me how it works with both birds and cats in the house. I would love to have a bird someday - I envision rescuing a parrot that someone got foolishly, not knowing what a huge commitment it was going to be.
Please, tell me how it works with both birds and cats in the house. I would love to have a bird someday - I envision rescuing a parrot that someone got foolishly, not knowing what a huge commitment it was going to be.
When I lived with my ex there was a combination of 7 cats and 4 parrots. The cats, being cats with cat instincts were very curious about the birds and sometimes got a little too curious. That's why we never let the birds out of their cages unless we were home. Occasionally a cat got too close to one of the parrots and it usually ended with the cat running off scared because the parrot bit them! I guess it also depends on how predacious your cat is.