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Alex the African Grey Parrot Irene Pepperberg, an animal psychologist, purchased Alex in 1977 from a pet shop located on the Northwest Side. She began an ongoing study for 30 years that would alter our perception of the intelligence of avian species. Her study with Alex has challenged the belief that birds only mimic human speech, without any understanding of meaning. What is Alex? In the beginning, Alex (short for Avian Learning Experiment) was just an ordinary African grey parrot purchased from a pet store. However, over the course of his life, he led trails in animal psychology that were beyond anything previously thought possible, and he proved that animals are as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Alex was one of the most well-known talking birds in the world, until his death in 2007. He appeared on TV shows and in scientific reports. In his entire life, Alex learned over 150 words and was able to recognize the colors, shapes materials, as well as the quantities of objects. Alex was able to comprehend the meanings of words, which is a feat that is rare for birds. When he heard the word “grape” and he realized that it was not a vegetable, but an fruit. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a way that made him understand them. She and a colleague would role-play as student and teacher, and Alex observed the actions and listened to the explanations. He was rewarded for his correct pronunciation and definition with the object that was associated with the word. Another interesting aspect of the method she trained Alex was that she taught him the meaning behind words, not just the sounds. This was a novel approach as pet parrots typically only learn words to enhance their novelty. The owners don't mean what they say when they use a certain word. Alex, on the other hand, meant exactly what he said when he used a particular word. Many people are enthralled by the fact that Alex could acquire so many things but some scientists have said that it was unfair to compare Alex with humans in terms of intelligence. They have pointed out that even though Alex was able to communicate however, he was not equipped with the ability to work with logic-based expressions such as “if you have x, then you have y.” Although this is still controversial but the fact remains that Alex set the foundation for studies into the animal mind and consciousness. Alex was among the most famous and well-known talking parrots until his death in 2007, at the age 31. What was Alex like? Alex was a violent bandit who loved to commit horrific acts of brutality. Despite his vicious tendencies, he was a very likeable character, and seemed to relish the power he possessed over his fellow hoodlums. He was a narcissist to two things in his life that was violence and classical music, particularly Beethoven, whose songs always brought images of blood and depravity to him. The group would drink milk mixed with drugs to prepare themselves for “ultraviolence.” Alex's unremarkable background as an African Grey parrot at a pet store was a great help. Irene Pepperberg, his human trainer was able to teach him words and concepts quickly. Her study of him for thirty years changed the way we think about animal cognition and communication. She acknowledges Alex with helping her learn how to use the model that was effective for animals as well as children who had learning disabilities. After buying an african grey parrot with him Dr. Pepperberg went on to study other parrots such as Wart and Griffin. She is now an instructor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research on birds. Alex is the youngest of the group and the most childlike. She is a little more of a tween and has been described as very ticklish. She is also the largest animal fan in the group. She often acts as peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they get into irrelevant fights (such as in “Abductions”). Alex has a remarkably self-assured sense of identity which she utilizes to manipulate other people. This has led to numerous disputes with other members of the gang, such as her long-time foe Gigi Hollingsworth, who she blames for spilling juice on her blanket as an infant (“Mime World”). She also has an Emo/Goth persona. She is a fan of wearing black and write long poems about loss, love, and life (“Boy Bands will be Boy Bands”). The writers of the show have said that Seth MacFarlane's track is her favorite and that she dated him. What was Alex's intelligence? Alex is the African grey parrot Irene Pepperberg first met in 1977, might appear to be just another pet. However, over the next 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology by demonstrating that birds are not just “rabbit brains.” Alex was a fluent speaker when Irene Pepperberg saw him for the first time in an animal store. Alex could recognize and ask for objects, say their names, and even categorize them. He could also express emotions, for instance, when he was bored or frustrated in training sessions. He would let his trainers know this by putting his chin against his cage, or shouting out loudly “I want banana.” Alex's intelligence is so advanced that he is able to comprehend and classify objects, their colors, shapes and materials. He was also able to tell the distinction between the plastic bag and a wooden box, as well as count and compare quantities of various items. He even grasped the concept of zero, which most people don't grasp until they are around four years old! What made Alex's abilities so impressive was that unlike other parrots Alex was able to comprehend what was being said. He was able to use his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe the characteristics of objects, and also convey their dimensions and materials. He even exhibited an understanding of analogies and could recognize the written form of words, though he did not seem to connect these with spoken counterparts. Parrots are the majority of birds that learn words, but don't understand their meaning. Pepperberg and her assistants acted out scenarios that involved the object they wanted Alex to master. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a popular way to teach animals. In addition to his brain skills, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who loved to interact with his owners. He was often an advisor and cheerleader during training sessions, encouraging or encouraging them to perform better. He was also very attentive and could sense the emotions of his human companions. He would often jump into the arms of his owner when she was happy, and clung to her leg when sad or upset. What was Alex's influence like? In his short life, Alex changed the lives of a lot of people. His legacy is a testament to his strength of determination and character. He was a source of inspiration for many mountain climbers, travelers and others who aspired to live life on their own terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. He believed that if you do not worry about what others think of you, you can achieve the heights of success. Through his life Chris/Alex faced numerous challenges. He had to deal with the loss of his father, financial challenges, and adversity. He was capable of overcoming all these obstacles by his sheer determination and perseverance. He did not give up on his dream of becoming a mountain climber. He pushed on towards his goal, and eventually became one of the most renowned mountain climbers around the globe. Even after his passing, he continues to inspire people around the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about the life of Alex and his incredible achievements in climbing. The film has received lots of critical acclaim and is regarded as one among the top documentaries of all time. It has been awarded numerous awards, including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature. In addition to his work with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also pioneered new avenues in avian intelligence. Alex could sing more than 100 vocal labels for actions and objects and could count object sets up to six, and demonstrate math skills that were quite advanced for an avian at the time. He was also able communicate with other animals by using a sign language, and he was able to comprehend grammar. He utilized a method of teaching called “rival model” which involved two trainers showing the bird what they were trying to teach it. The trainers would often switch positions to allow the bird to interact with them and receive the attention of each. Alex was named as a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. Alex was able accomplish so many things throughout his life because of his strength of character and desire to live his life on his terms.