Alex's Obituary in the LATimes

tags: Alex, African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus, cognition, learning, speech disabilities, Irene Pepperberg

Alex, the African grey parrot who worked with Irene Pepperberg, has managed something that most of us never will: his obituary is in today's LATimes (even more remarkable, it was in yesterday's NYTimes);

Some scientists have questioned whether Alex was as smart as he seemed. African grey parrots are very social birds, and some scientists argued Alex was guessing the correct answer from subtle cues he picked up from his trainers, although it was clear he was capable of making many mental connections.

"Alex's abilities were -- or should have been -- a nail in the coffin of those who maintain that there is a qualitative discontinuity between human and nonhuman animals," said David P. Barash, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington.

"The phrase 'bird brain,' still sometimes used as an epithet, is in fact a compliment. I'll miss the stubborn little feathered bastard," he said. [LATimes story]

The reporter who wrote this story was somewhat optimistic with regards to this species' life span. African grey parrots actually live 50 years, and perhaps as long as 60 years, in captivity.