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 She started a 30-year study that altered the way we think about the avian brain. Her research on Alex challenged the common belief birds can only imitate human language, but not understand the meaning.
What is Alex?
Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was initially an African grey parrot bought from a pet shop. However, throughout his life, he blazed trails in animal psychology that were above anything that was thought to be possible. He also proved that animals are as intelligent as dolphins or primates. In 2007 when he passed away, Alex was one of the most famous talking birds in the world, appearing on television programs and scientific reports.
In his lifetime, Alex learned over 150 words and could recognize colors, shapes materials, as well as the quantities of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meaning of words, which is an uncommon feat for birds. For example, when you hear the word "grape" he would know that it was a fruit, not an vegetable. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a manner that made him understand the meaning of them. She and a colleague would role-play as student and teacher, and Alex was able to observe the actions and listened to the explanations. He was rewarded for correct pronunciation and definition by receiving the object that was associated with the word.
She also taught Alex the meaning of words, rather than just the sounds. This was an innovative method in the sense that it is usually the situation that pet parrots are taught words for their novelty value only. When owners use certain words they aren't necessarily meaning what they're saying. Alex on the other hand, was referring to exactly what he meant when he used a certain word.
While many are awed by the fact that Alex could acquire so many things, some scientists have argued that it was unfair to compare him to humans in terms of intelligence. They have pointed out that while Alex was capable of communicating, he did not have the ability to comprehend logic, such as "if you have x, then you have y."
Alex's research into animal consciousness and intelligence is controversial. Alex was among the world's most famous talkative parrots up until his death in 2007, at the age 31.
What was Alex like?
Alex was an infamous member of a gang that loved brutal acts. He was a likable character despite his violent tendencies, and seemed to relish his influence over fellow hoodlums. He was a narcissist to two things in his life: violence and classical music, especially Beethoven and his songs, which always brought up images of blood and depravity to him. He and his group would drink milk that was laced with drugs to prepare themselves for "ultraviolence."
Alex's past as a parrot at the pet shop was not particularly impressive but it served him well. He was quick to learn concepts and words from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her study of him for thirty years revolutionized the theories of animal cognition and communication. She acknowledged Alex for teaching her to apply the model of competition which proved effective in other animals and children with learning disabilities.
After her work with him, Dr. Pepperberg went on to study other parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research on birds.
As the tiniest member of the group, Alex is perhaps the most childlike. She is a little kind of a tomboy, and has been described as being very ticklish. She is also the most avid animal fan in the group. She is often the peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into unimportant fights (such as in "Abductions").
Alex has a strong opinion of her own self-worth and uses it as a tool to manipulate other people. This has led her to get into conflict with other gang members, including her long-time adversary Gigi, whom she blames for spilling juice on her blanket when she was when she was a kid ("Mime World") She also has a Goth/Emo persona. She loves wearing black clothing and write eloquent poems about love, loss and life ("Boy Bands will be Boy Bands"). The show's creators have stated that Seth MacFarlane's track is her favorite and that she was a lover of his.
What was Alex like in terms of intelligence?
When Alex the African grey parrot first came into animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg's world in 1977, he could have been viewed as a mere pet. But over the following 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 store, Alex was already an skilled and proficient talker. He could categorize and name objects, as well as identify and request them. He could also communicate his emotions, like when he was dissatisfied or bored during training sessions. He would communicate this to his trainers by placing his head on his cage or vocalizing loudly, "I want a banana."
Alex's intelligence is so advanced that he is able to understand and categorize objects in terms of their colors, shapes and materials. He was also able to discern a distinction between a wooden box and a plastic bag and count and compare the amounts of different objects. He even understood the concept zero, which humans usually don't grasp until they are approximately four years old!
Alex's abilities were remarkable because unlike other parrots,, he could understand what he said. He was able to use his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe the characteristics of objects, as well as convey their dimensions and materials. He was able to understand the analogies and recognize written words but was not able to connect them with their spoken forms.
The majority of parrots learn words, but don't understand their meaning. Pepperberg and her assistants acted out scenarios which involved the object they wished Alex to learn. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a popular method of teaching animals.
In addition to his cognitive skills, Alex was a friendly and playful dog who loved to play with his owners. He often acted as an adviser and cheerleader during training sessions, encouraging or admonishing them to do better. He was extremely observant and could sense the emotions of his human companions. He would jump into his owner's arm when she was happy and cling to her leg when she was sad or upset.
What was Alex's influence like?
In his short lifetime, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is an example of his perseverance and strength of character. He was an inspiration to many mountain climbers, travelers, and people who aspired to live life in their own way. He taught them that they can accomplish anything if put your mind to it. He believed that if you do not focus on what others think about you, you can achieve excellence.
Chris/Alex had to face many obstacles on his journey. He was confronted with the loss of his father as well as financial issues and the adversity. He was able to overcome all of these challenges by his sheer determination and perseverance. He never gave up his dream of becoming an accomplished mountain climber. He pushed on towards his goal, and eventually became one of the most famous mountain climbers in the world.
Even after his death Alex continues to inspire people all over the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about Alex's life and amazing climbing accomplishments. The film has received a lot of praise from critics and is considered one of the greatest documentaries ever made. It has won many awards, including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature.
In addition to his work with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also set the standard for new avenues in bird intelligence. He was able perform more than 100 vocal labels for objects and actions. He was also capable of counting up to six object sets and displayed math skills that were quite advanced in the day for birds.
He was also able communicate with other animals by using sign language, and he had a solid grasp of grammar. He used a training method known as "rival model" which included two trainers who showed the bird what they wanted to teach it. The trainers changed positions often so that the bird was capable of interacting with them both and receive rewards and attention from each.
Alex was named a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. Alex was able to accomplish many things throughout his life because of his strength of character, and his determination to live life according to his own terms.