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Will Byrnes's Reviews > Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
by
by
Ms. Pepperberg began doing research on the cognitive capacities of a Gray parrot, Alex, in the 1970s, a time when animals were widely believed to be little more than bio-automatons, lacking not only intellectual capability, but emotions as well. Pepperberg endured years, decades of ridicule, scorn, resistance and a continuing challenge in attempting to find funding to persist with her work. This is her story of Alex, a remarkable animal, clearly possessed of great personality, intelligence, even a sense of humor. I know from personal experience that animals are much more than animated machines. I have wept at the loss of some of these, both screamed and laughed at their antics. Pepperberg has written a moving story not only about her challenges as a professional researcher, but about her relationship with Alex. This is a fast read, but it is filled with the joy of discovery, delight in the personality of this remarkable bird, and great sadness when Alex passes on. It sounds like a cliché, and probably is, but in reading this book, I really did laugh out loud and I really did cry. This is a moving read as well as an informative one.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
February 2018 � NatGeo � - by Virginia Morell - The focus here is on brainpower, not personality, per se, but is remarkable is in showing that our avian friends are hardly featherweights when it comes to cranial capacity and relationships. Alex comes in for a look.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
February 2018 � NatGeo � - by Virginia Morell - The focus here is on brainpower, not personality, per se, but is remarkable is in showing that our avian friends are hardly featherweights when it comes to cranial capacity and relationships. Alex comes in for a look.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 2009
–
Finished Reading
February 5, 2009
– Shelved
February 5, 2009
– Shelved as:
nonfiction
June 8, 2009
– Shelved as:
biography
May 30, 2019
– Shelved as:
autobiography
May 30, 2019
– Shelved as:
memoir
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Lilo
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rated it 3 stars
Aug 08, 2014 09:40PM
I bought this book last year but did not yet get around to read it.
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I think you, in particular, would appreciate it.
Will wrote: "I think you, in particular, would appreciate it."So I better give this book some priority.
Do you also know THE HUMAN NATURE OF BIRDS?
Is that like the animal nature of man?No, I have not read that one.
I finally read this book last September. I haven't had time to review it yet (and may not get around to review it at all).Since Will has done such a great job to review this book, I think I'll just endorse his review, at least, for the time being.
I might add: Even though Dr. Irene Pepperberg really loved Alex and tried to provide good care for him and the other parrots, keeping an animal that has wings and would like to fly and live a natural bird's life confined in alternatively a room and a cage, keep his wings clipped, and bother him with endless "school work" is, in my opinion, animal abuse. I realize that this study helped other animals (birds and mammals alike), however, I think that such study should have only been started if better living conditions for the parrot(s) could have been accomplished.
The Parrot Jungle in Miami, Florida, accomplished ideal living conditions for parrots already many decades ago. When I first visited the Parrot Jungle, in 1966, the performing parrots were free to fly and did so for several miles between 2-hourly performances, to which they returned on time, using their inner clock. (As a matter of fact, when I was there, one parrot arrived 5 minutes late and his performance was, therefore, skipped. He [or she] was so upset about not being allowed to perform that the vet had to be called to give him some sedative.)
Miami's Parrot Jungle is proof that parrots (and most likely many other animal species) can learn while being kept in adequate living conditions, appropriate to the species.
I realize that sufficient food supply and medical care will make up for some freedom loss, but if I were a bird, I would not trade my freedom to fly for either food or vet care. The least this researchers could do is provide a huge aviary. And if there is no grant or other provision to pay for this, they should choose a different animal species to study, one that is cheaper to provide adequate living conditions for (or maybe, they should choose a different profession).
Terry wrote: "Thanks, Lilo."You are welcome, Terry. It hurts to see animals suffer, be it in medical research (most of it senseless and/or redundant), science studies, husbandry, pet-keeping, or otherwise.
I have been struggling with vegetarianism for decades. Lately, I have, once again, been losing the battle but don't eat chicken, rarely eat pork, and try to get the little beef and fish I eat from sources where the animals have been raised/caught humanely. Still, I eat meat/fish with very bad conscience.
I have just finished reading the trilogy "The Cat Who Went to Paris", "Cat Abroad", and "The Cat Who'll Live Forever", by Peter Gethers. I don't know when (or if) I'll get around to write reviews, but I am sure anyone who loves animals would like to read the stories about this absolutely amazing cat and the outstanding bond and love that connected this cat with his human, Peter Gethers.
Definitely a worthwhile read
