I really don't know why I'm posting this. Perhaps it's just venting, or a lack of ears and a heavy sadness. Therapy, perhaps, or possibly a couple of beers. My bird - African Gray, "Puffer" - had an event tonight just before I arrived home. I noticed immediately that something was wrong when I opened the door: He greeted me whenever I entered the room - morning & night - and serenaded me when I was out of the room. Despite the species' intelligence & strong vocabulary, his go-to word was "Hello" and he used it smartly. It was oddly...