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Alex the African Grey Parrot When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and purchased an exuberant one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex and started a 30-year study that altered the way we think about the avian brain. Her research with Alex challenged the common belief birds could only mimic human language without understanding meaning. What is Alex? Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally an African grey parrot bought 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. Alex was among the most well-known talking birds in the world, until his death in 2007. He appeared on TV shows and in scientific reports. In his lifetime, Alex learned over 150 words and was able to recognize the colors, shapes, materials, and quantities of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meanings of words which is a rare feat for birds. For example, when he heard the word “grape” he would recognize that it was a fruit and not an vegetable. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a way that made him comprehend them. She and an associate would role-play as student and teacher and Alex was watching the actions and was attentive to the explanations. He was rewarded for correct pronunciation and definition by receiving the object associated with the word. Another interesting aspect of how she taught Alex was that she taught him the meanings behind words rather than just the sounds. This was a novel approach because it's usually the case that pet parrots get taught words to be fun only. When pet owners speak certain words but they don't actually mean what they're saying. Alex on contrary, said exactly what he said when used a certain word. While many people are impressed by the fact that Alex could learn so much, some scientists have argued that it was unfair to compare him to humans in terms of intelligence. They have argued that even though Alex was able to communicate however, he was not equipped with the ability to work with logic-based expressions such as “if you have x, then you have y.” Alex's research into animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. He was one of the world's most famous talkative parrots up until his death in 2007, at the age 31. What was Alex like? Alex was an extremely violent member of a gang who loved brutal acts. Despite his violent tendencies he was a very likeable character, and seemed to relish the power he wielded over his fellow hoodlums. He was a narcissist to two things in his life that was violence and classical music, specifically Beethoven and his songs, which always brought images of blood and depravity to him. The gang would drink milk laced with drugs to prepare themselves for “ultraviolence.” Alex's past as a parrot in the pet shop was not exceptional, but it was a great experience for him. Alex was quick to master words and concepts from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her thirty-year study of him changed the way we think about animal cognition and communication. She is grateful to Alex with helping her learn how to apply the model that was effective for animals as well as children who had learning disabilities. Dr. Pepperberg continued her research with other parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now an assistant professor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research with birds. Alex is the tiniest member of the group and the most playful. She's a tomboy and has been described by others as being a bit ticklish. She is also the largest animal fan in the group. She is usually the one to make peace when Clover and Sam get into meaningless arguments (such as “Abductions”) Alex has a strong perception of her own self-worth, which she uses as a tool to manipulate other people. This has led to many disputes with other members of the gang. This includes her long-time foe Gigi Hollingsworth, who she is blamed for spilling juice on her blanket as in the midst of her childhood (“Mime World”). She has also developed a Goth/Emo-style persona. She loves to wear black clothes and write deep poems about loss, love, and life (“Boy Bands will be Boy Bands”). The show's writers have mentioned that her top track is by Seth MacFarlane and she once had a relationship with him. What was Alex's level of intelligence? When Alex the African grey parrot, first entered animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg's life in 1977, he might have been viewed as a mere pet. Alex revolutionized the field of animal psychological research by showing that birds are much more than “rabbit minds.” When Irene Pepperberg first saw him at the pet shop, Alex was already an accomplished talker. Alex could recognize and ask for objects, name them and even categorize them. He could also express his feelings, such as when he was bored or frustrated in training sessions. He would express this to his trainers by placing his head on the cage or yelling loudly, “I want a banana.” Alex's brain was so sophisticated that he was able understand and even categorize objects according to their colors, shapes and materials. He could also tell the distinction between the plastic bag and a wooden box, as well as determine the quantity of different objects. In fact, he even was able to comprehend the concept of zero, which humans aren't able to grasp until the age of four! What made Alex's abilities so remarkable was the fact that, unlike other parrots, Alex was able to comprehend what he was saying. He was adept at using his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe requests, refuse, and objects, and also communicate their sizes and materials. He was able to comprehend the analogies and recognize written words, but did not seem able to connect them with their spoken forms. Most parrots are taught words, but they don't understand the meaning behind them. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would enact scenarios involving the object they wanted him to know about. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a popular method to teach animals. In addition to his cognitive abilities, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who enjoyed interacting with his owners. He often acted as an adviser and cheerleader during training sessions, encouraging or admonishing them to do better. He was also very observant and was able to recognize the emotions of his human companions. He would often jump into his owner's arms when she was smiling and was a clinging to her leg when sad or angry. What was Alex's impact on the world? In african grey parrots for adoption on earth, Alex changed the lives of many people. His legacy is a testimony to his character and determination. He was an inspiration for many mountain climbers, travellers, and others who were determined to live their lives on their own terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that if you didn't care what others think of your character, you will achieve excellence. Chris/Alex was faced with many difficulties during his journey. He had to face the loss of his father, financial difficulties, and adversity. He was able to overcome all of these obstacles by his sheer will and perseverance. He did not give up on his goal of becoming a mountain climber. He never gave up on his ambition to become an mountain climber. Even after his death he continues to inspire people across the world. Free Solo is a film about Alex and his amazing achievements in climbing. This film has received lots of praise from critics and is considered to be one of the top documentaries of all time. It has been awarded numerous awards, including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature. Alex Pepperberg was the first to develop the field of avian intelligence, in addition to his work for Dr. Pepperberg. Alex was able to sing more than 100 vocal label for objects and actions. He was also able to count up to six sets of objects and displayed math skills that were quite advanced in the day for birds. He was also able communicate with other animals using sign language, and also had a good grasp of grammar. He utilized the method of training known as “rival model,” which involved two trainers modeling to the bird what they wanted to learn. The trainers would often switch positions so that the bird could interact with them and receive attention from each. Alex was named a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. He was able to accomplish many things throughout his life because of his determination to character and his desire to live life to his own terms.