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Parrot mimics owner's voice to boss around her other pets
Telegraph.co.uk ^
| January 16, 2009
| Telegraph.co.uk
Posted on 01/16/2009 11:39:10 AM PST by libstripper
Barney, an African Grey Parrot, calls Margaret Sullivan's three dogs Harry, Tilly and Bluey by name.
The bird, 10, squawks out orders like "come here" and even offers praise to his favourites such as "good dog".
Mrs Sullivan, 65, who lives in Tredworth, Gloucestershire, with partner Ken Kersey, 62, admitted that Barney has a "very high opinion of himself".
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: animals; parrot; pets; smarterthanalllibs; smarterthandems; smarterthanhumans
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Remarkable how so many of out companion animals are smarter than many people give them credit for.
To: libstripper
Remarkable how so many of out companion animals are smarter than many people give them credit for. Remarkable how so many of out companion animals are smarter than many people. give them credit for.
There, I fixed it!
2
posted on
01/16/2009 11:41:22 AM PST
by
rockabyebaby
(Say what you feel, those who matter don't mind, those who mind don't matter.)
To: libstripper
They are *smart* in different ways. If a bird learns a phrase (amazing, but not the same thing as speaking in human terms) and then when the bird uses the phrase something rewarding happens, the bird will continue to do that. It’s the same thing as a dog figuring out that when they sit they get a dog biscuit.
3
posted on
01/16/2009 11:41:53 AM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
To: libstripper
"Come in, it's okay, my husband's gone, braaaawwwk!"
4
posted on
01/16/2009 11:42:54 AM PST
by
andy58-in-nh
(Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.)
To: libstripper
Parrot mimics owner’s voice to boss around her other pets
-—Just like Obama does with SOROS!
5
posted on
01/16/2009 11:43:12 AM PST
by
Troll_House_Cookies
(Ironically, Chancellor Obama's first re-education camp will be in Alaska.)
To: andy58-in-nh
ROTFLMAO!
Ya know....we could draw that particular conversation out in detail.....
6
posted on
01/16/2009 11:43:48 AM PST
by
Badeye
(There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
To: libstripper
that’s brilliant. i wish there was a video
To: rockabyebaby
Come on, we need to see who the bird voted for before we can make that assessment!
8
posted on
01/16/2009 11:44:39 AM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
To: brytlea
No, that operant conditioning explanation has long been discredited as a complete explanation. Animals have combined and used phrases in novel ways not explainable by conditioning, not to mention other linquistic quirks which don't fit the operant model.
9
posted on
01/16/2009 11:49:21 AM PST
by
steve86
(Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
To: brytlea
"when the bird uses the phrase something rewarding happens, the bird will continue to do that. Its the same thing as a dog figuring out that when they sit they get a dog biscuit." Same as humans.
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To: Badeye
Dave Attell does a hilarious routine involving a parrot who he imagines using as sort of a living Palm Pilot. Far too off-color to repeat here, but it had me spewing adult beverages out of my nose when I first heard it.
11
posted on
01/16/2009 11:51:55 AM PST
by
andy58-in-nh
(Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.)
To: steve86
Can you cite me something I can read on that?
12
posted on
01/16/2009 11:56:27 AM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
To: I see my hands
Sure, humans can be trained the same way. It works on your kids (and husbands).
13
posted on
01/16/2009 11:57:16 AM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
To: andy58-in-nh
I’ll keep a look out for it, thanks!
14
posted on
01/16/2009 12:02:31 PM PST
by
Badeye
(There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
To: libstripper
This story (and thread) is useless without video.
Inexplicably, the Telegraph has loads of video, but not for this story that I could find.
15
posted on
01/16/2009 12:06:49 PM PST
by
Plutarch
To: brytlea
It works on your kids (and husbands).I was going to argue that point, but realize that here I am, single, male and living alone.... and the seat is down. Like it always is.
I guess the training took.
/johnny
16
posted on
01/16/2009 12:11:54 PM PST
by
JRandomFreeper
(God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
To: libstripper
Ms. Sullivan must be the teeny, tiny woman who lives in a shoe. Cairn Terriers are not large dogs and the one she's holding dwarfs her. She's a darling senior citizen and it sounds like she has an equally darling menagerie.
To: brytlea
Kinda like welfare recipients, right?
18
posted on
01/16/2009 12:14:06 PM PST
by
Cletus.D.Yokel
(Obama: Too historically big to fail.)
To: JRandomFreeper
LOL You sound well trained (plus you’re a FReeper!) Someone did a good job.
19
posted on
01/16/2009 12:18:10 PM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
To: Cletus.D.Yokel
Sadly, yes. In fact, I fear that if my dogs could vote the would be Democrats. They are used to almost everything being done for them for almost no work.
20
posted on
01/16/2009 12:18:58 PM PST
by
brytlea
(You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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