Posted on 05/21/2008 10:33:54 AM PDT by southernnorthcarolina
TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.
Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said.
He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.
"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.
"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.
The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.
But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.
"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.
GOOD ONE! LOL
We have friends with an African Grey. He’s not allowed to watch television anymore, particular cop dramas. He mimics the husband answering the phone (including the rings). And when he’s feeling silly, he calls himself different birds: “I’m a sexy chicken”, etc. He likes to mimic the cat, and mock the birdsong from outside.
The funniest thing is not that he thinks he’s a person, but that he thinks people are birds. The family has a friend who is a very large woman. She had not yet met the bird, came into the house, and the bird startled, stepped waaaaaay back on his perch and whistled slowly. “You’re a BIG BIRD,” he said in amazement.
Another friend has an African Grey and a Senegal; the African Grey considers the Senegal her “baby” (that’s the name she gave him, and uses consistently, despite the owners using a different name); before the Senegal fledged, she’d drop feet-full of seed down to where he waddled around on the floor below.
Amazing creatures! I’ll bet the Nakamuras are happy they taught the bird his address!
Grays are estimated to have the intelligence of a 3 yo.
My gray is 6yo and we estimate she has over 1000 words or phrases. She has a sense of humor and will laugh at appropriate occasions. She’ll also make up jokes and laugh at them, make fun of the dogs and other birds, and comfort the other birds if they appear agitated. When I enter the room she calls my name, makes kissy noises, wolf whistles, and then says “give a cracker”. If I do, she then says “mmmm, thank you”.
Grays are just outstanding companion birds.
Apparently most streets in Japan do not have names. Since hearing about this I have always wondered how one specifies a street address in Japan.
One day the Bishop came to visit. He had heard of Father Brown's remarkable bird, and asked to see the bird perform. So Father Brown took the Bishop to the Rectory, and the priest brought out the parrot. Father Brown then lifted the left leg of the bird, and out came "The Old Rugged Cross." He then lifted the other leg, and the bird belted out "Rock of Ages." The Bishop was ecstatic. He couldn't get over the parrot's uniqueness.
After dinner was served, Father Brown excused himself for a moment to take a phone call. While he was gone the Bishop walked over to the cage, remarking to himself what an incredible bird Father Brown possessed. He decided to try it for himself to see if the bird would respond. He lifted the left leg of the bird, and the parrot began to sing "The Old Rugged Cross." He then lifted the other leg, and as expected, the bird sang "Rock of Ages." "Yes indeed, this is quite a remarkable bird," the Bishop said. "But I wonder, what would happen if I lifted both legs at the same time?"
"I'd fall on my ass, you damn fool!" was the parrot's reply.
That is just amazing and hilarious! The bird could discern a large person from average and then such a comment! LOL
I’ve been so interested in these birds, I’d love to get one.
Perhaps the police told him he had the right to remain silent.
We knew a woman who owned an African grey parrot. She lived in the basement of her sister’s family’s home. This parrot was extraordinarily talkative, liked everyone, and used phrases in proper context recognizing people, other animals, the difference between good morning and good evening.
When my acquaintance died unexpectedly, her sister didn’t know what to do with the parrot. They cared for the bird but left it by itself in the basement. Within eight months that parrot was dead. They cannot be left in isolation - it will kill them.
Buster’s vocabulary is much larger, of course, than the three phrases I mentioned. They develop a changing repertoire as they get older. He seems to have forgotten a lot of the words and phrases he learned as a baby. He is contextual in a couple of instances. He can tell me when he wants water, when he wants to be covered, or when he want apple/cookie/cracker/peanut. He has a horrible “cough” sound that is ANNOYING. Then, he says “Blesssss you! Thank you!”
Neither dog nor cat - but still a pretty cool critter *ping* with great comments! :o)
Yes, birds grieve!
Our African Grey (about 8yrs old now) went to the back of her cage, stopped eating, drinking, excreting (if you know what I mean -trust me, you change the paper in the bottom of the cage, you KNOW), talking or even looking at us for a good 2 weeks after our eldest golden retiever died. How she knew she was gone and would not be comming back I’m still not sure, but she did and we thought we were going to loose her, too. Phoenix (the grey) really liked Goldilocks (the golden -DUH) and would not make fun of her like the other pets in the house. When she was gone, one day -with-in about a week of Goldilocks passing- she just KNEW and went in the back corner and stayed there. We talked to her like she was a person, made all kinds of overtures and offered bribes, but maybe she just needed her time to mourn. One day she was just better. Three some years later, she still talks about her (Goldilocks is a good girl!) but she’s not actively mourning... It did scare us silly, though.
She’s a wonderful little addition to our messed up family. I could tell hundreds of stories about how smart and funny she is!
Another interesting story....the parrot died of lonliness, just like so many of us would.
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