Alex and Me: A Story about A Scientist and an African Grey Parrot

If you ever used the term “bird brain” to refer to someone with little intelligence, think again. Birds are highly intelligent creatures. Just ask Irene M. Pepperberg, scientist, writer, associate research professor at Massachusetts, and teacher of animal cognition at . Ms. Pepperberg’s memoir, Alex & Me, tells the story of her research and friendship with an African Grey parrot named Alex.

In the opening of the book, author Irene M. Pepperberg asks readers how much impact can a one-pound ball of feathers have on the world? This delightful book answers that question and delves into the world of animal intelligence.

The book opens with Pepperberg learning of Alex’s death. She was surprised at how much she grieved. Being a scientist, she at first didn’t realize how strong a bond she created with Alex. In fact his last words to her were, “You be good. I love you.”

Alex had the brain the size of a shelled walnut. Yet, he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He, with Pepperberg’s coaching, proved that birds possess intelligence.

Throughout the book, Pepperberg tells of the resistance she met within the scientific community. She best puts it, “Scientifically speaking, the single greatest lesson Alex taught me, taught all of us, is that animal minds are a great deal more like human minds than the vast majority of behavioral scientists believed—or, more importantly, were even prepared to concede might be remotely possible. Now, I am not saying that animals are miniature humans with somewhat lower-octane mental powers, although Alex when strutted around the lab and gave orders to all and sundry, he gave the appearance of being a feathery Napoleon. Yet animals are far more than the mindless automatons that mainstream science held them to be for so long. Alex taught us how little we know about animal minds and how much more there is to discover. This insight has profound implications, philosophically, sociologically, and practically. It affects our view of the species Homo sapiens and its place in nature.”

The stories she tells of Alex, who died prematurely at age 31, are endearing, fascinating, and humorous. I laughed when Alex would order the poor interns around the lab.

Irene M. Pepperberg, scientist and author of the book Alex & Me. (Photos Courtesy of Harper Collins.)

Pepperberg is continuing her research on African Grey parrots. She is head of the Alex Foundation. Her book, Alex & Me, by Harper Collins retails for $13.99. It’s a beautiful book that will remain with me for a long time.

Readers’ Comments:

12/3/2009 11:40 AM Robert Roundtree wrote:
That is a very informative post. Never would I have thought that birds could do math. I know that the African Grey has to be a really smart bird since it is a really good talker.–from Robert Roundtree

12/3/2009 12:13 PM Janet wrote:
The Siamese cat I had as a child had a behavior that is still unbelievable to many people. If I decided to spend the night away from home at the last minute, he would wander the house crying all night. But, if I sat down with him and told him I would not be home until morning and to behave himself, he would be content to sleep on my pillow and not disturb anybody.

12/3/2009 5:50 PM Glenda wrote:
When Sarah and Kaitlin were about a year old, both found their way out of my house through the doggy door leading to the backyard, through a shared gate between my neighbor and my yard, and out to the front yard. It just so happened two women were walking down the street at the same time, so Sarah and Kaitlin decided to go with them. At some point, Sarah lost interest and started walking back towards the house. A neighbor was able to catch her, and called me at work. She said, “We saw two black Scotties walking with two women, but it was obvious they didn’t belong to them. A little while later, we saw Sarah by herself, but didn’t see the other one.” I drove home immediately! Sarah and I scoured the neighborhood looking for Kaitlin. After about an hour, I reluctantly decided to take Sarah back to the house, and resume the search later in the afternoon. As I walked up the pathway to my front door, something caught my eye. There, in the ceiling to floor window that faced out onto the front yard, was Kaitlin, staring back at us! Somehow, she was able to find her way back to the house, through the neighbor’s yard, through our backyard, through the doggy door, and was patiently waiting in the house.

12/4/2009 12:08 PM Carolyn Bartz wrote:
Little Boy Blue was very young when I observed some analytical behavior. Although cats tend to be problem solvers, I was to view to what extent. I saw Blue pacing the floor just below one of my window sills. As cats always strive to reach for the higher ranges, I knew what he might be thinking about doing. The mini blinds were down but open. From his low point on the floor he could not determine from depth perception if there was room on the sill to allow him to jump up on. I witnessed him standing on his hind legs, take a paw and actually walk the windowsill length to judge the allowable space of which he could acquire. I could see his frustration as he determined it was not a possible feat. He turned to see me watching him. I went over and drew the blinds up. I always keep the blinds up now for his viewing on the sill. Not only was he a problem solver, but it’s nice to know he was not going to just tear down the blinds. All housekeepers would love Blue.

12/7/2009 1:34 PM Jerry Dunham wrote:
The now-deceased, one-time alpha of our canine pack, Toots, was a pacifist, and did not like confrontation. When the particular dog bed (out of three) that she preferred in our family room was occupied by another dog, she’d hover and hope they’d move, but all knew she wouldn’t do more to make them move and seldom would one of the other dogs do so.
    We have a bell on the doorknob of our back door so that dogs can nose it to inform us when they want to go out. If one’s going out, generally EVERYone wants to go out, lest they miss something.
    When Toots wanted her bed badly enough, she’d go ring the bell and watch the dog that had been occupying her bed scramble and go out, then she’d calmly go lie down in her favorite spot.
    Yes, she was a liar, and manipulative, but those seem to be rather common human traits, too. What this represents is an interesting level of indirect problem solving.
    Of course it doesn’t say much for the intelligence of our other dogs that they fell for this ruse more than once.
Jerry Dunham
Tejas Coonhound Rescue

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