Irene Pepperberg, an animal psychologist, purchased Alex in 1977 from a pet store 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 what it means.
What is Alex?
Alex (short form for Avian Learning experiment) was originally just an African grey parrot bought from a pet shop. However, over the course of his life, he led trails in animal psychology that were beyond what was previously thought to be possible. He also proved that animals are as intelligent as dolphins or primates. Alex was among the most talked about talking birds in the world until his death in 2007. He appeared on television shows and scientific reportages.
In his lifetime, Alex learned over 150 words and could identify shapes, colors materials, as well as the quantities of objects. He was able comprehend the meaning of words, which is an uncommon feat for birds. When he heard "grape" and he realized that it was not a vegetable, but a fruit. Dr. Pepperberg taught Alex words in a way that made him comprehend the meaning of them. She and an associate were able to play the roles of students and teachers, and Alex was watching the actions and listened to the explanations. When he understood the correct pronunciation and definition of the word, he was rewarded with the object that was associated with it.
Another intriguing aspect of how she taught Alex was that she taught him the meaning behind words, rather than the sounds. This was an innovative method because it's usually the case that pet parrots are taught words to be fun only. The owners don't really mean what they say when they use a particular word. However with Alex who spoke a certain word was a true statement of what he said.
While many people are impressed by the fact that Alex could acquire so much however, some scientists have argued that it was unfair to compare him to humans in terms of intelligence. They have argued that although Alex was capable of communicating but he didn't have the ability to comprehend logic-based expressions such as "if you have x, then you have y."
Alex's research on animal intelligence and consciousness is controversial. Up until his death in 2007 at 31 years old, he was among the most well-known talking parrots in the history of the world.
What was Alex like?
Alex was an infamous gang member who enjoyed committing brutal acts of violence. Despite his vicious tendencies, he was a very likeable character and seemed to enjoy the power he wielded over his fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven's songs particularly, brought up images of blood and depravity for him. He also was a regular drinker of milk spiked with drugs, which the gang members and he used to strengthen themselves for their "ultraviolence."
Alex's humble beginnings as an African Grey parrot at a pet store served him well. He was quick to learn words and concepts from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her research over thirty years on him revolutionized the theories of animal cognition and communication. She is grateful to Alex with helping her learn how to apply the model that worked for animals as well as children with learning disabilities.
Dr. Pepperberg continued her research with other parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is now a professor at the University of Washington and continues her pioneering research on birds.
As the youngest of the gang, Alex is perhaps the most adorable. She is a little kind of a tomboy, and has been described as being extremely charming. She is also the largest animal fan in the group. She is usually the one to make peace when Clover and Sam get into meaningless arguments (such as "Abductions")
Alex has a strong perception of herself that she uses as a tool to manipulate other people. This has led to her getting into conflict with other gang members, including her longtime foe Gigi who she blames for spilling a juice on her blanket when she was an infant ("Mime World") She also has developed a Goth/Emo personality. She loves to wear black clothes and write deep poems about loss, love, and life ("Boy Bands will be Boy Bands"). The show's writers have mentioned that her most favorite track is by Seth MacFarlane and she once was a lover of his.
What was Alex's level of intelligence?
When Alex the African grey parrot first entered animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg's home in 1977, he may have seemed like just another pet. But over the following 30 years, Alex helped revolutionize the field of animal psychology, proving that birds are not just "rabbit brains."
Alex was a fluent speaker when Irene Pepperberg saw him for the first time at the pet store. He could recognize and even request objects, say their names, and even categorize them. He could also communicate his feelings, for instance, when he was feeling unhappy or dissatisfied during training sessions. He would communicate this to his trainers by placing his head against his cage or shouting loudly, "I want a banana."
Alex's brain was so sophisticated that he could understand and even categorize objects and their colors, shapes and materials. He could also tell a distinction between a wooden box and a plastic bag, as well as count and compare the amounts of different objects. He even understood the concept zero, which most people don't grasp until they are about four years old!
What made Alex's abilities remarkable was that, unlike other parrots, he truly understood what was being said. He was able to use his over 100-word vocabulary to describe, request and reject objects, as well as convey the sizes and types of materials. He even exhibited an ability to recognize analogies and recognize the written form of words, though it was not apparent that he could connect them with their spoken counterparts.
Parrots are the majority of birds that learn to speak, but they don't understand their meaning. To teach Alex, Pepperberg and her assistants would play out scenarios that involved the object they wanted him to know about. This technique is referred to as the rival model and has become a well-known method of teaching animals.
Alex was not only an intelligent dog but also a fun and affectionate dog who loved to play with his owners. He often acted as an advisor and cheerleader during the training sessions, urging or encouraging them to do better. He was very observant and was able to discern the emotions of his human companions. He would often jump into his owner's arms when she was smiling and would cling to her leg when sad or upset.
What was Alex's influence?
In his short lifetime, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is an example of his perseverance and determination. He was a role model for a lot of mountain climbers, travelers and others who were determined to live their lives on their terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. He believed that you can attain greatness if you don't worry about what others think.
In the course of his journey, Chris/Alex had to face many challenges. He was confronted with the loss of his father, financial hardships, and adversity. He was able to conquer all of these obstacles with his sheer determination and perseverance. He never gave up on his dream of becoming a mountain climber. He pushed on towards his goal, and eventually became one of the most famous mountain climbers in the world.
Even after his passing, he continues to inspire people across the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about Alex's life and his incredible climbing achievements. This film has received much critical acclaim, and is considered to be one of the greatest documentaries ever made. It has won 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 of bird intelligence. He could perform more than 100 vocal labels for actions and objects and was able to count objects up to six, and showed math skills that were quite advanced for a bird at the time.
He also could communicate with other animals through sign language and had a good understanding of grammar. He used a training method known as "rival model" which included two trainers who showed the bird what they wanted to teach it. The trainers would change positions often so that the bird could be in a position to interact with them both and receive rewards and attention from each.
After the success of Free Solo, Alex was named a National Hero by President Barack Obama in 2014. Alex was able to achieve many things throughout his life because of his strength of character and his desire to live life on his own terms.