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Alex the African Grey Parrot When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and bought an obnoxious one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex, she started a 30-year study that changed the way we view the avian brain. Alex's research disproved the belief that birds can only imitate human language, but not understand the meaning. What is Alex? Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally an African grey parrot bought from a pet store. Over the course of his life, he forged new ground in the field of animal psychology and proved that animals are just as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Until parrot for sale african grey in 2007, Alex was one of the most famous talking birds around the world, appearing on television shows and in scientific reports. Alex was able to identify the shapes, colors and materials, as well as the quantity of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meanings of words which is a feat that is rare for birds. For example, when you hear the word “grape” he would recognize that it was a fruit and not an vegetable. This was due to the method that Dr. Pepperberg taught him words. She and an associate would play the role of student and teacher and Alex was able to observe the actions and took in the explanations. When he listened to the correct pronunciation and meaning of the word and was rewarded with the object associated with it. She also taught Alex the meaning of words, rather than just the sounds. This was a revolutionary method as pet parrots typically only learn words for their novelty. When the owners say an idiom, they don't really mean what they're saying. However with Alex when he spoke an exact word was a true statement of what he was saying. Many people are enthralled by the fact that Alex could acquire so many things however, some scientists have argued that it was unfair to compare him to humans in terms of intelligence. They argued that even though Alex could communicate, he was not capable of using logical expressions like “if you do x, then y.” Alex's research into animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. Alex was one of the world's most famous talking parrots until his passing in 2007 at the age 31. What was Alex like? Alex was an infamous bandit who loved to commit brutal acts of violence. Despite his violent tendencies he was a very likeable character, and seemed to relish the power that he wielded over his fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven's songs particularly, made images of blood and depravity for him. The gang would drink milk that was laced with drugs in order to prepare themselves for “ultraviolence.” Alex's unremarkable background as an African Grey parrot at a pet store helped him immensely. Alex was quick to master words and concepts from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her thirty-year study on him revolutionized theories of animal cognition, communication and interaction. She was credited by Alex for teaching her to use the rival model, which proved useful in other animals as well as children with learning disabilities. After her research with him Dr. Pepperberg went on to conduct studies with other parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington, where she continues her pioneering research with birds. As the youngest member of the gang, Alex is perhaps the most adorable. She's a bit of a tomboy, and has been described by others as being ticklish. She is also the most avid animal lover in the group. She is often the peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into meaningless disputes (such as in “Abductions”). Alex has a strong opinion of who she is that she uses to manipulate others. This has led to her getting into conflict with other gang members, including her long-time adversary Gigi, whom she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket as a child (“Mime World”) She also has an Emo/Goth persona. She is a fan of wearing black clothes and write deep poems about love, loss and life (“Boy Bands will be Boy Bands”). The show's creators have stated that her top track is by Seth MacFarlane and she once was a lover of his. What was Alex like in terms of intelligence? When Alex the African grey parrot, first entered animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg's home in 1977, he could be seen as just another pet. But over the subsequent 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology, proving that birds aren't just “rabbit brains.” When Irene Pepperberg first saw him at the pet store, Alex was already an skilled talker. He could categorize and name objects, and identify them and even ask for them. He could also express emotions, like when he was feeling dissatisfied or bored during training sessions. He would let this be known to his trainers by putting his head against his cage or vocalizing loudly, “I want a banana.” Alex's brain was so sophisticated that he was able understand and even categorize objects according to their shapes, colors, and materials. He could also discern the difference between bags made of plastic and wooden box, as well as measure and compare the quantities of different items. In fact, he even understood the concept of zero, which humans typically don't grasp until around age four! What made Alex's skills so remarkable was that, unlike other parrots, Alex was able to comprehend what he was saying. He was adept at using his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe the characteristics of objects, and also convey their dimensions and materials. He even showed an understanding of analogies and was able to recognize the written form of words – though he didn't seem to connect them with their spoken forms. The majority of parrots learn words, but do not know what they mean. Pepperberg and her assistants acted out scenarios which involved the object they wished Alex to master. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a common way to teach animals. In addition to his brain skills, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who loved to interact with his owners. He was often an advisor and a cheerleader during training sessions. He would encourage his owners or admonish them to do better. He was also very observant and was able to sense the emotions of his human companions. He would jump into the arms of his owner when she was smiling, and hold her leg if she was upset or sad. What was Alex's impact on the world? In his short time on earth, Alex changed the lives of many people. His legacy is a testament to his determination and character. He was an inspiration for many mountain climbers, travelers and those who were determined to live their lives on their terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that you can achieve excellence if you don't think about what others think. Throughout his journey Chris/Alex was faced with a lot of challenges. He had to face the loss of his dad, financial problems, and difficulties. He was able overcome all of these challenges by his determination and perseverance. He did not give up on his goal of becoming a mountaineer. He pushed on towards his goal, and eventually became one of the most well-known mountaineers in the world. Even after his death he continues to inspire people across the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about Alex's life and his incredible achievements in climbing. The film has received a lot of critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the most acclaimed documentaries ever produced. It has been awarded numerous awards, including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature. Alex Pepperberg pioneered bird intelligence in addition to his work for Dr. Pepperberg. He could perform more than 100 vocal labels for actions and objects, was able to count sets of objects up to six, and showed math skills that were advanced for birds at the time. He was also able to communicate with other animals via sign language and was able to comprehend a lot of grammar. He used the method of training known as “rival model,” which involved two trainers who showed the bird what they wanted it to learn. The trainers would often switch positions so that the bird could interact with both and receive the attention of each. After the success of Free Solo, Alex was given the title of National Hero by President Barack Obama in 2014. Alex was able to accomplish much in his lifetime because of his strength of character, as well as his determination to live his life according to his own terms.