|
|
Article: Bird word: don't call Alex the parrot a birdbrain. He knows what he's talking about.(Life)
- Article from:
- Current Science, a Weekly Reader publication
- Article date:
- October 22, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Weekly Reader Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Moments after I met Alex for the first time, he started making demands. "Wanna go chair," he said in a throaty voice. It wasn't the most polite way to greet a new visitor, but since Alex is an African gray parrot. I took no offense.
Jesse Gordon. a student who works in the tab where I met Alex, picked hint up and carried him to a chair, Moments later, Alex spoke up again. "Wanna showah." he said, requesting a shower in his Boston accent. He puffed up his feathers and looked expectantly at Gordon until she misted him with a water bottle.
The lab where Alex lives is located at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. Last spring, I dropped by to listen to ...