When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and bought a haughty one-year-old African grey parrot named Alex and began a 30-year research project that changed how we perceive avian intelligence. Her work with him challenged the common belief that birds can only mimic human speech, without any understanding of what it means.
What is Alex?
Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally an African grey parrot purchased from a pet shop. Through his life, he forged 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 talked about talking birds in the world until his death in 2007. He appeared on television programs and reports on science.
In his life, Alex learned over 150 words and was able to recognize the colors, shapes materials, as well as the quantities of objects. He also understood the meanings behind words, an ability that was not common for birds. When he heard "grape", he knew that it was not a vegetable but a fruit. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a manner that made him comprehend them. She along with a colleague would take on the roles of student and teacher. Alex observed and listened. He was awarded for correct pronunciation and definition with the object that was associated with the word.
Another interesting aspect of the way that she trained Alex was that she taught him the meanings behind words rather than just the sounds. This was a novel approach, as it is typically the case that pet parrots are taught words for their novelty value only. When the owners say a particular word but they don't actually mean what they're saying. Alex, on the other hand, was referring to exactly what he meant when he used a specific word.
While many are awed by the fact that Alex could learn so many things, some scientists have argued that it is unfair to compare Alex to humans in terms of intelligence. They have pointed out that even though Alex was able to communicate but he didn't have the ability to work with logic, such as "if x, then y."
Alex's work on animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. When he died in 2007 at 31 years of age, he was among the most well-known talking parrots in the history of the world.
What was Alex like?
Alex was an extremely violent member of a gang that loved brutal actions. Despite his violent tendencies he was a very likeable character, and seemed to relish the power he possessed over his fellow hoodlums. He was a narcissist to two things in his life that was violence and classical music, especially Beethoven who's music always evoked images of blood and depravity for him. The group would drink milk mixed with drugs to prepare themselves for "ultraviolence."
Alex's background as a parrot at an animal shop was not particularly impressive but it was a great experience for him. Irene Pepperberg, his human trainer, was able teach him words and concepts quickly. Her thirty-year study of him revolutionized the theories of animal cognition and communication. She acknowledges Alex with teaching her how to use the model that was effective for all animals and children who had learning disabilities.
Dr. Pepperberg continued her research with other parrots and parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now an assistant professor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research on birds.
As the youngest member of the gang, Alex is perhaps the most adorable. She is a bit of a tween, and has been described by other members as being ticklish. She is the most animal-friendly member of the group. She is often the peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into unimportant disputes (such as in "Abductions").
Alex has a very self-assured sense of identity that she uses to manipulate others. This has led her to get into fights with other members of the gang, including her longtime foe Gigi who she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket as a child ("Mime World") She also has developed an Emo/Goth personality and enjoys dressing in black and writing deep poems about love and loss ("Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands"). The show's creators have said that Seth MacFarlane's track is her most favorite and that she dated him.
What was Alex like in terms of intelligence?
Alex, the African grey parrot that Irene Pepperberg first met in 1977, may appear to be just another pet. Alex revolutionized the field of animal psychological research by showing that birds are much more than "rabbit minds."
Alex was a fluent speaker when Irene Pepperberg saw him for the first time in a pet store. Alex could recognize and ask for objects, utter their names and even categorize them. He could also express emotions, like when he was feeling bored or frustrated during training sessions. He would let his trainers know this by putting his chin against his cage, or shouting out loudly "I want banana."Alex's intelligence is so advanced that he is able to comprehend and categorize objects in terms of their colors, shapes and materials. He could also discern the difference between the plastic bag and a wooden box, and count and compare quantities of different items. In fact, he even was able to comprehend the concept of zero, which humans don't usually grasp until the age of four!
What made Alex's skills so impressive was that, unlike other parrots, Alex truly understood what was being said. He was able to use his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe, request, and refuse objects, as well as describe their dimensions and materials. He even exhibited an understanding of analogies and was able to recognize the written word form - although it was not apparent that he could associate these with their spoken forms.
The majority of parrots are taught words however they don't know the meaning behind the meaning behind them. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would enact scenarios involving the object they wanted him to know about. This method is known as the rival model and it has since become a common method of teaching animals.
In addition to his cognitive skills, Alex was a friendly, playful companion who loved to interact with his owners. He was often an adviser and cheerleader during training sessions, urging or encouraging them to perform better. He was also very attentive and was able to recognize the emotions of his human companions. He would jump into his owner's arms when she was happy and cling to her leg if she was unhappy or sad.
What was Alex's influence?
In his short life, Alex changed the lives of many people. His legacy is a testimony to his strength of determination and character. He was an inspirational figure for many mountain climbers, travelers and people who wanted to live their lives on their terms. He taught people that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that if you don't focus on what others think about you, you can reach excellence.
Throughout his journey, Chris/Alex had to face a lot of challenges. He had to deal with the loss of his father and financial difficulties, as well as adversity. He was capable of overcoming all these challenges through sheer determination and determination. He never gave up his goal of becoming a successful mountain climber. He did not give up on his goal of becoming a mountain climber.
Even after his death, he continues inspiring people around the world. Free Solo is a film about Alex and his amazing accomplishments in climbing. The film has received lots of critical acclaim, and is regarded as one of the best documentaries of all time. It has won numerous awards including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature.
Alex Pepperberg pioneered bird intelligence in addition to his work for Dr. Pepperberg. Alex could sing more than 100 vocal labels for objects and actions and could count objects up to six, and showed math skills that were incredibly advanced for an avian at the time.
He also could communicate with other animals via sign language and was able to comprehend a lot of grammar. He used a training method called "rival model" which involved two trainers showing the bird what they were trying to teach it. The trainers would often switch positions so that the bird could interact with them and receive the attention of each.
Alex was named as a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. Alex was able achieve many things in his lifetime because of his strength of character and his desire to live life on his terms.
