printOscar is my recent rescue: a rare Cape Parrot. Or, more accurately, an Un-Cape Parrot (Poicephalus fuscicollis). One more homie. (You’ve already met T. Cup, my adorable, feisty, Senegalese Parrot.) Oscar is even closer to home (I hail from South Africa; his forefathers from South-Central Africa.)
The African parrots are the smartest of the Psittacidea family. I wonder why? Is it evolution’s answer to the sorry state of the Continent? Perhaps Africa’s parrots have evolved to take over. (Humor alert for the grim among you.)
The African Grey, in particular, is the most intelligent parrot. It can acquire upwards of 1000 words, sentences included, and displays considerable cognition. Observe Einstein in action. By her own admission, she’s a “Super Star.”
The pioneering researcher into African Greys is Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Here she is on CNN explaining how her work with the late Alex (for “Avian Learning Experiment”) shattered all preconceptions about the parrot as no more than a mimic. Pitted against a primate, Alex always won out.
Here Dr. Pepperberg both demonstrates and explains Alex’s cognitive and communicative accomplishments. (Of course, Alex would never have committed the syntactical infelicity committed by the human who titled this YouTube segment: “ALEX – One of the most smartest parrots ever!”)
My Oscar has the potential to be as smart as the Grey, but first he has to overcome the stunting effects of shop life. No matter how dedicated the breeder, three years with little individualized attention leaves its mark on such a sentient, sensitive, highly intelligent creature. In the case of Oscar, it is a plucking habit.
Here Oscar has climbed to the top of his giant castle, and is posing alongside my libertarian manifesto, Broad Sides: One Woman’s Clash With A Corrupt Society.
The Second Edition features bonus material. Ask Oscar. Get your copy (or copies) now!
And do pray that no more little, fluffy green feathers find their way into my gentle giant’s mother-of-pearl beak.
I love it Ilana! Keep up the good work with these wonderful creatures. At 1000 words they are already smarter than 85.5% of Congress. Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family. h
Did not know some parrots trump primates – live and learn. Also, have read (pre Oscar) Broad Sides: One Woman’s Clash With A Corrupt Society and enjoyed it.
I will send you separately some pictures of some family birds (or, where I come from – BOIDS).
Broadsides was a great read! Thought provoking and humorous. As someone who watches the situation in SA closely, I’m eagerly awaiting your next book. Will autographed copies be available for us fanboys? Oh yeah, nice parrot.
With the upcoming cold weather, and your fondness of parrots; you might enjoy the “Lord Nightingale” series (4 books) by Judith A. Lansdowne. The parrot is the main character; or so I’m told.