His uniqueness not only regarded his ability to learn names of individual objects but also identify the objects and their colors regardless of their shape. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. That obscured the significance of the studies, which is why the alex studies is important irene pepperberg has done groundbreaking experiments, and bringing them together in a panoramic view is a great service she describes. Pepperbergs are at the center of a highly emotional debate about whether thought is solely the domain of humans, or whether it can exist in other animals.
This book examines how alex the african grey parrot changed our knowledge of the intelligence of these beautiful birds. Alex, the african grey parrot who worked with graduate student irene pepperberg from 1977 to his death 20 years later, was almost singly responsible for proving that birds not only understand instructions, but can communicate their needs. When alex was about one year old, pepperberg bought him at a pet shop. Doctor irene pepperberg demonstrated that alex can identify colors, shapes and materials. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process irene pepperberg, 2008 harpercollins 240 pp.
Alex has helped us recognize that animal intelligence is a continuum, so that these creatures that look so different from us are doing the same kinds of intelligent behavior that. Alex the parrot the psychology of writing, reading, and. Awella bird, bird, bbirds the word the trashmen 1963 alex was a bird who knew words. This book shows just how intelligent parrots are and they are more than just pets, they are our lifelong companions. Its the amazing, heartwarming, and often comical story of alex, an african grey parrot who challenged the definition of bird brain, and his. Apr, 2009 einstein the african grey parrot showed off her vocabulary skills with a 200 sounds and. Alex the parrot is the only nonhuman to ask the existential.
Parrots are famous for their uncanny ability to mimic human speech. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Sep 10, 2007 alex, a 31yearold african gray parrot, knew more than 100 words and could count and recognize colors and shapes. What makes these comments remarkable is that alex is not a graduate student but a 22yearold grey parrot. In 1977, grad student irene pepperberg purchased him, a yearold.
Alex, the african grey parrot who was smarter than the average us president, has died at the relatively tender age of 31. The name alex was an acronym for avian language experiment, or avian learning experiment. In 1977, graduate student irene pepperberg walked into a pet store and bought a yearold african grey parrot. Arlene worked as the lab manager at the pepperberg lab at brandeis university in waltham, ma where she worked with dr.
Aug 31, 2009 alex the african gray parrot could do more than speak and understand he could also count, identify colors and develop an emotional relationship. The true story of an african grey parrot and the thirtyyear experiment by animal psychologist, irene pepperberg, and her quest to dialogue with the bird. The chapter describes the capabilities of alex, an african gray parrot. I also remembered that alex the parrot was constantly remembered and remarked on by jimmy snowman throughout his whole lifethe whole book. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alexs case, headline news.
Readers who meet the one pound ball of feathers that is alex, an african grey parrot, and follow his educational. Alex became very smart and could hold a pretty decent conversation. Named alex, for avian learning experiment, the parrot was randomly acquired from a pet shop for graduate student pepperbergs research. I recently read irene pepperbergs book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. Alex the parrot is an excellent nonfiction picture book about a parrot, scientific method, and animal communications. Alex the african gray parrot could do more than speak and understand he could also count, identify colors and develop an emotional relationship. No ordinary bird, a true story, by stephanie spinner and illustrated by meilo so. Stephanie spinner has written many highly praised childrens books, including alex the parrot, aliens for breakfast with jonathan etra, its a. Irene pepperbergs african gray parrot learned to speak and understand english so well he changed both public and scientific beliefs about animal communication and cognition. Book overview in 1977, graduate student irene pepperberg walked into a pet store and bought a yearold african grey parrot. If you liked this book, try buddy, the first seeing eye dog, eva moore. Alex may 1976 6 september 2007 was a grey parrot and the subject of a thirty year. Alex the parrot the psychology of writing, reading, and the.
Pepperberg is the true story of how a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process book cover. His last words to his owner, irene pepperberg, were you be good. Central is the authors work with alex the african grey parrot, her achievements and his including learning to add and. Oct 09, 2012 irene pepperbergs african gray parrot learned to speak and understand english so well he changed both public and scientific beliefs about animal communication and cognition. To learn more about the call of the osprey, go here. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process by irene m. This book is the story of irene pepperberg, who got her doctorate from mit in her early twenties, that lead to her study of the intelligence, and communication skills, of a grey parrot named alex. Pepperberg and alex, an african grey parrot who proved. The book picks up steam, thankfully, when she moves on to talk about alex, the african grey parrot the book is written about. This book tells the tale of irene pepperberg and her work with alex, a truly phenomenal african grey parrot.
Pepperberg, completely changed the way scientists perceived parrot intelligence. Alex, a 31yearold african gray parrot, knew more than 100 words and could count and recognize colors and shapes. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dr irene pepperberg chose alex as a young parrot and began teaching him language and to associate words with objects. When alex died in september 2007, his last words to. This story of alex, a famous african grey parrot, documents his thirtyyear relationship with his trainer and the ways in which his life has changed scientific understanding about language and thought. Because she was going to study him, she decided to call him alex short for avian learning experiment.
Irene pepperberg, who reveals the amazing story of how she, along with her parrot alex, smashed scientific boundaries with their experiments and research on avian learning, speech and cognition. Irene pepperberg was challenging much of the scientific orthodoxy in animal behavioural studies when she began testing alex, and had a lot of this was a superinteresting short read. Alex may 1976 6 september 2007 was a grey parrot and the subject of a thirtyyear experiment by animal psychologist irene pepperberg, initially at the university of arizona and later at harvard university and brandeis university. Einstein the african grey parrot showed off her vocabulary skills with a 200 sounds and. It was very similar to the other weird visionsdreams that jimmysnowman has. He could count to six, identify colours, understand concepts such as. What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in alex s case, headline news. Every schoolchild knows polly wanna cracker, but the general belief is that such vocalizations lack meaning. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers critics top ten books of the. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligenceand formed a deep bond in the process kindle edition by pepperberg, irene. No ordinary bird is a true story of an extraordinary animal.
This book explores a university of montana research project using blood samples from osprey chicks to investigate the effects of heavy metal refuse from mining on the ecology of the clark fork river. Alexs spectacular abilities were sensationalized in the news media, as though it were a talking parrot act. The first of these chapters presents field notes and observations of a particular parrot. Alex, as adult readers may recall, was indeed no ordinary bird. The book is divided into seven parts, each of which except the last one contains two or thee chapters. Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist irene m. How a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process, the common usually derogatory epithet of birdbrain takes on an entirely new meaning. Meile so recounts the true story of an african grey parrot who was the subject of a graduate students scientific experiment on animal intelligence and who astonished everyone with its ability to add. Their work has forever changed the way we think about animals, as well as how we understand human nature. Because she was going to study him, she decided to call him alexshort for avian learning experiment. Nov 27, 2016 alex was an african parrot born in 1976. Dec 24, 2008 i recently read irene pepperbergs book about her life with alex the world famous african grey, who could identify colors, quantities, materials, shapes and use language in astonishing context. A new york times bestseller and selected as one of the papers top ten books.
The alex foundation still receives emails and letters about alex. He became famous for being the subject of a psychological experiment at three universities university of arizona, harvard and brandeis university. Awella bird, bird, bird, bbirds the word awella bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word awella bird, bird, bbirds the word awella dont you know about the bird. Grey parrot studios llc was founded by arlene levinrowe for the express purpose of producing life with alex. On september 6, 2007, an african grey parrot named alex died prematurely at age thirtyone. In 1977, graduate student irene pepperberg walked into a pet store. At the end of this section, alex the parrot made an appearance in snowmans dream. No ordinary bird, written by stephanie spinner and illustrated by meilo so, is a nominee for the 1415 south carolina childrens book award. This 55minute video gives an inside view of an alex and is a beautiful tribute of his life. Beginning with irenes early life and first fascination with birds, then her fight for recognistion as a serious female scientist in the 70s, the. But this proves that there are many smart creatures out there.
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