Parrot's oratory stuns scientists

BBC News On Line ^ | 2004/01/26 | Alex Kirby

[aculeus]

The finding of a parrot with an almost unparalleled power to communicate with people has brought scientists up short.

The bird, a captive African grey called N'kisi, has a vocabulary of 950 words, and shows signs of a sense of humour.

He invents his own words and phrases if he is confronted with novel ideas with which his existing repertoire cannot cope - just as a human child would do.

N'kisi's remarkable abilities, which are said to include telepathy, feature in the latest BBC Wildlife Magazine.

N'kisi is believed to be one of the most advanced users of human language in the animal world.

He uses words in context, with past, present and future tenses, and is often inventive.

One N'kisi-ism was "flied" for "flew", and another "pretty smell medicine" to describe the aromatherapy oils used by his owner, an artist based in New York.

When he first met Dr Jane Goodall, the renowned chimpanzee expert, after seeing her in a picture with apes, N'kisi said: "Got a chimp?"

He appears to fancy himself as a humourist. When another parrot hung upside down from its perch, he commented: "You got to put this bird on the camera." Dr Goodall says N'kisi's verbal fireworks are an "outstanding example of interspecies communication".

In an experiment, the bird and his owner were put in separate rooms and filmed as the artist opened random envelopes containing picture cards.

Analysis showed the parrot had used appropriate keywords three times more often than would be likely by chance.

Captives' frustrations

This was despite the researchers discounting responses like "What ya doing on the phone?" when N'kisi saw a card of a man with a telephone, and "Can I give you a hug?" with one of a couple embracing.

Professor Donald Broom, of the University of Cambridge's School of Veterinary Medicine, said: "The more we look at the cognitive abilities of animals, the more advanced they appear, and the biggest leap of all has been with parrots."

Alison Hales, of the World Parrot Trust, told BBC News Online: "N'kisi's amazing vocabulary and sense of humour should make everyone who has a pet parrot consider whether they are meeting its needs.

"They may not be able to ask directly, but parrots are long-lived, and a bit of research now could mean an improved quality of life for years." © BBC MMIV

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"Parrot's oratory stuns scientists"

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BRITISH SCIENTISTS EASILY STUNNED

[Liberal Classic]

If the parrot demands the represenation of an attorney to protect his rights I'll be impressed. Otherwise, it is a curiousity.

[Xenalyte]

Tell me what I'm thinking riiiiight now.

I would, except for two things.

One, you're a happily married man.

Two, this is a family-friendly forum. :)

[sweetliberty]

Neat story. I don't doubt that there are levels of animal intelligence that we have only begun to guess at. I used to have a pet pig, and that was without a doubt the cleverest animal I have ever been around. He was a constant challenge. I've often said it was like having a perpetual 2 1/2 year old child around. And when he had a temper tantrum, it was personal. If he got mad at my daughter, he would go upstairs and trash a section of her room that she was particularly persnickety about. If he got mad at me, he'd go for the CD's....and not just any one...he'd pick a favorite. He had musical preferences too. He would go and sit in front of the stereo when he wanted me to play some music, but if he didn't like my selection, he would squeal until I changed it. He was partial to country.

[Lazamataz]

If it weren't for humans, parrots might have become the dominant intelligent life form on earth.

[joesnuffy]

He was able to easily ascertain what a cat had on his mind.....

[martin_fierro]

Peetah Jennings has that bird's vocabulary beat by no more than five words.

[xm177e2]

We spoil everything, don't we?

[RightWingNilla]

If I bothered to teach a bird a few phrases, such as "irreducible complexity," "no evidence," "2nd law of thermodynamics," and "micro but not macro evolution," he'd be able to dazzle an auditorium full of creationists.

Brrraaaap! Where are the transitionals? Where are the transitionals? brrraaaaaappp!

I think some parrots have even learned to use a keyboard and surf the net based on some of the stuff I read here.

[tiamat]

I am probbaly wrong about the voice.......

I don't do those kind of movies, but have heard the line!

Tia

[mercy]

I admit the telepathy thing was wierd but parots are scary. I used to go to a business that had an african grey in their loby. I always had my dog. Whenever he saw the dog he would meow like a cat. His owners said he never did that except with MY dog.

You should read the article. There's some pretty interesting stuff in there. Don't be a flat earther. Just because it chalenges your preconceptions does not mean its trash.

[mercy]

Oh please. Now tell me the 'gifts of the Spirit' are sorcery.

[mercy]

Ever see the classic Nature Channel program about intelligence testing Jays and Squirrels? Something like sixteen separate and differing triggers to get a nut to drop down a tube. Record was 11 seconds or so on the first try. I had a dog so dumb you could put a biscuit under an empty coffee can right in front of his eyes and he would just sniff around the can.

[MattAMiller]

I'm skeptical to begin with but this telepathy stuff has me thinking there's something hinky going on here. I'd be thrilled to death if this was true, but I'm not buying it yet.

[norton]

I have to step into this one:
I live with eight (gasp!) cats.
three are talkers.
four are physical about giving notice.
one sits still for about 30 seconds until you come along and do what she wants done.
Happens every time....

[Axenolith]

While sampling water at a CHP station in Williams I saw this sparrow land on a gutter, look into the downspout, and then jump in. With a lot of scrabbling and scratching noises I could hear it go down the chute until it shot out of the bottom with a loud chirp. It then went and GOT some others, who proceeded to follow it in repeatedly doing the same thing like they had just found the neatest thing since McDonalds lot crumbs. It was bizarre to say the least, and seemed to demonstrate a heck of a lot more cognizant aptitude than I'd ever given them credit for...

[Axenolith]

Our cats have gone on "Whacko Cat" sprees a couple of times starting ~15 minutes before a near epicenter 3+ earthquake has rocked the house.

[MHGinTN]

Birds like to have fun, too!

[stands2reason]

I have the opposite sitiation with Mr. S2R. If I'm up to my armpits in dirty dishwater, or otherwise indisposed, and the phone rings, I always know it's him.

[mindspy]

Animals have been known to use telepathy. I saw a show where the animals knew ahead of time when the owner was on her/his way home. This study was done with the owner living the house at a random time and returning at a random time. I also witnessed this ability first hand. One day at the stable I watched this two horses get very excited and intently watching in the direction the cars came in. Ten minutes later, their owner a really sweet little old lady drove up. I also noted that this was not her usually time to arrive at the barn.