owners that their birds can say, “Hello” when the phone rings or
“Who is it?” when some one rings the doorbell. What’s more, most
birds can do this without being taught, since they can make connec-
tions between events and what is said at the time.
For a long time, it was believed that parrots and other talking
birds simply imitate what they hear, but recent research has shown
that these creatures have surprising cognitive abilities. Only recent-
ly have scientists begun to understand the complexity of the bird’s
communication system. Studies conducted since 1977 by Professor
Irene Pepperberg on the subject of animal behavior and animal-hu-
man communications give detailed information about birds’ skills
in speaking and comprehension. In one of her most important
works, the study was conducted with four African Grey Parrots. The
oldest of them, “Alex,” could communicate with the researchers, use
specific words, express his wishes, knew the
concepts of “same” and “different,” could
count and identify objects, colors, shapes and
materials.
13
According to scientists, these
skills were not automatic, but the results of
learning, which in turn is a sign of a high lev-
el of consciousness.
14
Naturally this is the in-
spiration of God. It is ridiculous to
imagine that a small piece of flesh
composed of insentient atoms can
The Miracle of Talking Birds
40
Studies conducted by Professor Irene
Pepperberg, into animal behavior and
communication between animals and hu-
mans, give detailed information about
birds’ speaking and comprehension
skills. Only recently have scientists be-
gun to understand the complexity of their
communications.
