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Farewell to a famous parrot

Alex, who could talk and count, dies at 31.

"You be good," said Alex last Thursday night. "I love you. See you tomorrow."

But by the next morning Alex, who was 31, was dead of unknown causes.

Read the story here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on September 11, 2007
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I am so sad to hear Alex has died. Alex inspired me to get my own parrot a grey called Charlie. the work done with Alex proved to me that the emotional and mental well being of these super inteligent birds play a major part in looking after them in a captive environment. My grey has a very large vocabulary and he does use words in their proper context.He will say " want some" and" In the bowl" when he wants food I am eating. Also "hurry up" if I am not quick enough giving it to him. He can be very naughty at times and a sweet heart at others.I have no doubt he understands emotions and he can have a hissy fit just like a todler. We also have a 45 year old grey called blue who was wild caught 40 odd years ago and has been in the family all his life He is a real character and not immune to telling you off if things are not to his liking. Alex was a role modle most parrots could only hope to emulate.He taught a lot of people that parrot think and feel and in doing so improved the life of many captive birds all over the world.

Posted by: sheila ambrose | September 13, 2007 10:49 AM

We, as parrots, are deeply saddened by the passing of our cousin Alex. He showed stupid humans that we birds are thinking sentient creatures. He and his research partnes helped spred the word about our abilities and the need we have for proper care and housing, itellectual stimulation and love. We will miss him.

Posted by: Lily, Ruby and Zorro Parrot | September 15, 2007 11:00 PM

I am as well very sad that Alex has died, I watched the net for any info on his progress all the time. How do you get over something like that and continue with your studies on greys? I would have a very difficult time if something happened to my grey, he is ten years old and such a part of our family I don't know what I would do. He has a very good vocabulary too. He eats dinner at the table every night on a perch my husband built that just puts him at table level off of the chair. He is very polite and stays on his perch unless we forget to give him some of what we are eating then he reaches over to my husbands plate and helps himself. We give him a mixture of beans, rice, seads, corn all cooked together but he still thinks he should have some of our dinner and he ususally gets it.

Posted by: Sharie Toth | October 5, 2007 09:47 PM

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