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Alex the African Grey Parrot When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and bought an obnoxious one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex and began a 30-year research project that changed how we perceive avian intelligence. Her research on Alex challenged the notion that 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 at a pet store. Over the course of his life, he broke new ground in animal psychology and proved that animals are as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Alex was among the most well-known talking birds in the world, until his death in 2007. He was a regular on TV shows and in scientific reports. In his lifetime, Alex learned over 150 words and could recognize the colors, shapes materials, and the sizes of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meaning of words, which is a rare feat for birds. When he heard “grape” it was clear that it was not a vegetable but a fruit. This was due to the method that Dr. Pepperberg taught him words. She and a colleague would play the roles of teacher and student. Alex observed and listened. When he listened to the correct pronunciation and meaning of the word and was rewarded with the object associated with it. She also taught Alex the meaning of words, instead of just the sounds. This was an innovative method as pet parrots typically only learn words for their novelty. When pet owners speak a particular word but they don't actually mean what they are saying. Alex on contrary, said exactly what he meant when he used a certain word. Many people are enthralled by the fact that Alex was able to learn so many things, some scientists have argued that it was unfair to compare Alex to humans in terms of intelligence. They have argued that although Alex was capable of communicating but he didn't have the ability to use logic, such as “if x, then y.” Alex's work on animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. Until his death in 2007 at 31 years of age Alex was among the most famous talking parrots of all time. What was Alex's personality? Alex was an infamous group member who was fond of committing horrific acts of brutality. He was a likable character despite his violent tendencies and seemed to enjoy his influence over fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven's songs particularly conjured up images of blood and depravity for him. He also was a regular drinker of milk that was spiked with drugs, which his gangmates and he would then use to fortify themselves for their “ultraviolence.” Alex's non-remarkable experience as an African Grey parrot at a pet store helped him immensely. 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 instructing 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 study other parrots such as Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington, where she continues her pioneering research with birds. Alex is the tiniest of the group and the most playful. She is a little bit of a tomboy and has been described as extremely charming. She is the most animal-friendly member of the group. She is often the peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into meaningless fights (such as in “Abductions”). Alex has a strong sense of her own self-worth, which she uses as a tool to manipulate others. This has led to her getting into fights with other gang members, including her longtime enemy Gigi, whom she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket when she was a child (“Mime World”) She also has developed a Goth/Emo persona. She loves wearing black clothes and write deep poems about love, loss and life (“Boy Bands will be Boy Bands”). The writers of the show have said that Seth MacFarlane's song is her top choice and that she dated him. What was Alex's intelligence? When Alex was an African grey parrot first came into animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg's world in 1977, he may have seemed like just another pet. However, over the next 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology by demonstrating that birds are not just “rabbit brains.” When Irene Pepperberg first saw him at the pet shop, Alex was already an accomplished talker. He could categorize and name objects, and identify them and ask for them. He could also express feelings, such as when he was bored or frustrated during training sessions. He would let his trainers know this by placing his chin against his cage, or saying loudly “I want a banana.” Alex's intelligence was so advanced that he could understand and even categorize objects according to their shapes, colors, and materials. He could also tell the difference between the plastic bag and a wooden box, and count and compare quantities of different items. In fact, he knew the concept of zero, which humans typically don't grasp until the age of four! Alex's abilities were impressive because, unlike other parrots, he could understand what he said. He was able to use his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe, request, and refuse objects, and also convey their dimensions and materials. He was able to understand analogies and recognize written words however he was not able to connect them with their spoken form. Most parrots are taught words, but they don't understand the significance behind these words. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would create scenarios involving the object they wanted him to learn about. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a common way to teach animals. Alex was not just an intelligent dog but also a fun and affectionate dog who loved to play with his owners. He was often a mentor and a cheerleader during training sessions. He would encourage his owners or encourage them to be better. african greys for adoption was extremely observant and could sense the emotions of his human companions. He would leap into his owner's arms when she was smiling, and hold her legs if she was upset or sad. What was Alex's impact like? In his short time on earth, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is a testament to his determination and character. He was a source of inspiration for many travelers, mountain climbers and others who aspired to live life in their own way. He taught his students that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that you can attain the heights of success if you do not worry about what other people think. Chris/Alex faced many challenges on his journey. He had to face the loss of his father, financial difficulties and even adversity. He was able to overcome all of these challenges through sheer determination and perseverance. He did not give up on his goal of becoming a mountaineer. He never gave up on his goal of becoming a mountain climber. Even after his death Alex continues to inspire people all over the world. Free Solo is a film about Alex and his incredible climbing accomplishments. This film has received great critical acclaim and is considered to be one of the most acclaimed documentaries ever made. It has won numerous 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 the field of avian intelligence. He could perform more than 100 vocal labels for objects and actions and was able to count object sets up to six, and demonstrated math skills that were quite advanced for birds at the time. He was also able to communicate with other animals via sign language and had a solid understanding of grammar. He used the method of training known as “rival model,” which involved two trainers who showed the bird what they wanted to learn. The trainers would often switch positions so that the bird could interact with both and receive attention from each. After the success of Free Solo, Alex was given the title of National Hero by President Barack Obama in 2014. He was able to accomplish so much in his lifetime because of his strength of character and the desire to live life on his terms.