B
irds, and in particular the group we have referred to
as “sound imitators,” have an astonishing talent for
mimicry. This demonstrates that these creatures
have a definite consciousness, for in order to use their talent,
birds have to know what they want to imitate, the word’s
stress and intonation, evaluate its timing very carefully and
then make a number of adjustments. Moreover, a bird must
have a good memory to be able to remember and repeat the
sounds it has heard.
At this point, it shouldn’t be overlooked that mimicry is
a skill that even the majority of intelligent, conscious people
do not possess. It is impossible or somewhat difficult for many
of us to imitate songs or sounds we’ve heard in a way that’s
true to the original. People who are talented mimics attract
much attention and are praised for their keen powers of ob-
servation. But all members of a given species of parrot use
their skills of mimicry effortlessly—another indication that
they possess consciousness.
It should be pointed out, however, that the “conscious-
ness” possessed by birds does not resemble ours. Man has
skills that no other living crea-
tures have such as the ability
to think, make comparisons,
understand, learn, draw con-
clusions from what we’ve learned,
