[Kozak]

Pining for the fjords?

[null and void]

I am going to refrain from making any ‘pining for the fjords’ comments.

I suggest you all do the same. It’s like losing a 3 year old, with a beak.

[skinkinthegrass]

..was 'E, An Norwegian Blue Parrot.....Was 'E, Ever on Monty Python Flying Circus?

[Dysart]

I bet the Chinese are culpable somehow. (I’m half joking, people) Sorry to hear this sad news. I bet this women bonded with this bird as many others routinely do with their dogs/cats.

[BluH2o]

How long did you have him?

[GeronL]

we need a law to ban parrots from dying

its always hard to lose a pet.

[B-Chan]

Come on, guys, that parrot was dear to someone. Let’s cut the author some slack.

[mtbopfuyn]

(((hugs)))

[ElkGroveDan]

Beautiful plumage.

[LibFreeOrDie]

“Dr. Pepperberg purchased Alex from a Chicago pet store in June, 1977.”

Which means Alex was at least 30 years old.

From another Web site: life span of African Greys is 50-70+ years.

[SandRat]

This is terribly sad news.

My oldest daughter had cared for Alex for over 2 years when he and Dr. Pepperberg were at the University of Arizona.

We all got to meet Alex in the UofA facility, he was such a sweet, smart, creature. The whole family is sad at his passing.

[El Sordo]

I have always been amazed how smart African Greys are.

I imagine that must make it all the worse to lose one.

[Abby4116]

Alex, with Dr. Pepperberg's help :), contributed greatly to our knowledge of psitticines and their thought processes. I don't know how many people outside of the aviculture community were aware of the studies that were done with Alex, but he showed that parrots are not "birdbrains", but extremely intelligent animals. He will be missed.

[lapster]

I can well imagine that losing a pet you have had for 30 years must be heart wrenching. My boy Baron (120-pound Doberman) has now reached the decade mark (the outside range, I am told, for Dobermans). And when he goes part of my heart will be interred with him (though, frankly, I would rather inter a large part of Michael Vick’s heart instead).

[LibWhacker]

What's Alex's story? Couldn't find anything about him on the website except that he was involved in some kind of language training. Was he a rescue bird? If so, what were the circumstances of his rescue? How old was he? How large was his birdy vocabulary, etc.?

I'm sorry you lost him. I know how attached people can get to their birds. My brother has owned one for twenty years. That bird hates almost everybody except my brother, and for some strange reason, me.

[skinkinthegrass]

The Foundation helps provide funding for Dr. Irene Pepperberg's work with African Grey's - Alex, Griffin, and Arthur (aka ''Wart''). Dr. Pepperberg has developed training techniques that enable Grey parrots not only to produce, but also comprehend and use English speech appropriately. She has also shown that these birds can perform as well as chimpanzees and dolphins on many tasks used to evaluate intelligent behavior....

'E, still hasn't done anything really useful...not tricks....like knownly; opening a beer can/starting a fire....building a road...operating a power drill....using a computer....log_in on FR... *thinking*....nevermind. :D

[JRios1968]

I guess I shouldn't post this video.

[arasina]

I was just telling someone a couple of days ago how intelligent African Grey parrots are after seeing a hilarious video on YouTube. Marv the African Grey Breaks It Down For You The 'owner' of Alex got him 30 years ago so it is like losing a 'family' member. From the website:

Dr. Pepperberg purchased Alex from a Chicago pet store in June, 1977. He can label seven colors, is learning the alphabet and can count up to six objects. Alex is also working on identifying objects from photographs. Alex likes cardboard boxes, keychains, and corks.

[Global2010]

Wow this I think is the first obit notice posted here at FR for a beloved Parrot.

May he fly over the rainbow bridge.

God Bless and comfort his grieving owner.

[alloysteel]

I understand those who were well acquainted with the parrot grieving for their loss, but at the risk of sounding insensitive, this is the first I have heard of the parrot Alex. Was he some kind of movie star, or did he have a talk show maybe?