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Alex the African Grey Parrot When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and purchased a haughty one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex, she started a 30-year study that altered the way we think about the intelligence of birds. Her research on Alex challenged the common belief birds can only imitate human language without understanding meaning. What is Alex? Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally an African grey parrot that was purchased from a pet store. Over the course of his lifetime, he broke new ground in the field of animal psychology and proved that animals are just as intelligent as dolphins or primates. In 2007 when he passed away, Alex was one of the most well-known talking birds in the world, appearing on TV shows and in scientific reports. Alex was able to identify colors, shapes and materials as well as the quantity of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meanings of words which is an uncommon feat for birds. For example, when it came across the word “grape” he would recognize that it was a fruit and not a vegetable. This was due to the way that Dr. Pepperberg taught him words. She and an associate would role-play as students and teachers and Alex observed the actions and listened to the explanations. He was awarded for correct pronunciation and definition by receiving the object that went with the word. She also taught Alex the meaning of words, not just the sounds. timneh african grey parrot was an innovative method because it's usually the case that pet parrots get taught words to be fun only. When owners use an idiom they aren't necessarily meaning what they're saying. However in the case of Alex, when he said an exact word was a true statement of what he said. Some scientists believe it is unfair to compare Alex with humans when it comes to intelligence. They have argued that even though Alex was capable of communicating however, he was not equipped with the ability to work with logical expressions like “if there is x, then there must be y.” Although this is still controversial, the fact remains that Alex set the foundation for studies into the animal mind and consciousness. Alex was one of the most famous and well-known talking parrots up until his death in 2007, at the age 31. What was Alex's personality like? Alex was a violent group member who was fond of committing gruesome acts of brutality. He was a likable character despite his violent tendencies and seemed to enjoy the power he had over his fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven's songs, in particular, always made images of blood and depravity for him. He also had a habit of drinking milk spiked with drugs, which his gangmates and he would then use to fortify themselves for their “ultraviolence.” Alex's experience as a parrot at the pet shop was not remarkable, but it served him well. He was quick to learn concepts and words from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her thirty-year study of him changed the way we think about animal cognition and communication. She acknowledged Alex for teaching her to apply the model of competition which proved effective in other animals and 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 work with birds. As the tiniest member of the group, Alex is perhaps the most innocent. She is a bit of a tween, and has been described by others as being ticklish. She is also the most avid animal fan in the group. She is often the peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into unimportant squabbles (such as in “Abductions”). Alex has a very self-assured sense of identity that she uses to manipulate other people. This has led to her getting into fights with other gang members, including her long-time adversary Gigi, whom she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket when she was an infant (“Mime World”) She also has an Emo/Goth-like personality and loves dressing in black clothes and writing poems about loss and love (“Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands”). The show's creators have stated that Seth MacFarlane's song is her top choice and that she has dated him. What was Alex like in terms of intelligence? Alex Alex, the African grey parrot that Irene Pepperberg first met in 1977, may have appeared to be another pet. But over the next 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology, proving that birds are not just “rabbit brains.” Alex was a fluent speaker when Irene Pepperberg saw him for the first time at an animal store. He could categorize and rename objects, and identify them and even ask for them. He could also express his emotions, like when he was dissatisfied or bored during training sessions. He would tell his trainers this by placing his chin on his cage, or shouting out loudly “I would like a banana.” Alex's intelligence is so advanced that he can understand and categorize objects such as their colors, shapes, and materials. He could also tell a distinction between a wooden box and a plastic bag and count and compare the quantities of different items. In fact, he understood the concept of zero, which humans typically don't grasp until the age of four! What made Alex's skills so remarkable was that unlike other parrots Alex was able to comprehend what was being said. He was capable of using his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe, request, and refuse objects, and also communicate their sizes and materials. He also demonstrated an ability to recognize analogies and 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 don't comprehend their meaning. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would create scenarios involving the object they wanted him to learn about. This technique is known as the rival model and has become a well-known method to teach animals. In addition to his cognitive abilities, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who loved to play with his owners. He was often a mentor and cheerleader during training sessions. He would encourage them or admonish them to do better. He was also extremely observant and was able to recognize the emotions of his human companions. He would leap into his owner's arms when she was happy and hold her leg if she was unhappy or sad. What was Alex's impact on the world? In his short lifetime, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is an example of his perseverance and strength of character. He was a source of inspiration for many climbers, mountaineers, and people who aspired to live life on their own terms. He taught people that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. He believed that if you didn't focus on what others think about your character, you will achieve the heights of success. Chris/Alex had to face many obstacles on his journey. He had to deal with the loss of his father and financial difficulties, as well as difficulties. He was able overcome all of these challenges by his sheer determination and perseverance. He never gave up on his dream of becoming an accomplished mountain climber. He continued to work towards his goal and eventually became one of the most renowned mountaineers in the world. Even after his passing, he continues to inspire people all over the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about Alex's life and his incredible achievements in climbing. This film has received much critical acclaim and is considered to be one of the most acclaimed documentaries ever made. It has won many awards including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature. In addition to his collaboration with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also pioneered new avenues in bird intelligence. Alex was able to sing more than 100 vocal labels for objects and actions. He was also capable of counting up to six sets of objects and showed math skills that were advanced in the day for birds. He could also communicate with other animals via signs and was able to comprehend a lot of grammar. He used a method of training called “rival model,” which involved two trainers modeling to the bird what they wanted to teach it. The trainers would change places frequently so that the bird was in a position to interact with both of them and receive praise and attention from each. Alex was named a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. Alex was able to achieve many things in his lifetime due to his strength of character and the desire to live life to his own terms.