Spring Break
Memoir of parrot to come next fall
Prof. Irene Pepperberg will release a book on her experience with Alex the parrot, who died in Sept.
News | 1/15/08
Posted online at 4:40 AM EST on 1/15/08
(AP) NEW YORK-The story of Prof. Irene Pepperberg (PSYC) and her famous African grey parrot, Alex, whose untimely death last fall made news around the world, will be told in a book.
The memoir, tentatively titled "Alex and Me," covers Pepperberg's 30 years with the parrot that could count to six, identify colors and even express frustration with repetitive scientific trials. It will be released this fall by Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Pepperberg said she plans to explore the evolution of her relationship with the parrot, a bond that she said grew stronger as they collaborated on a daily basis over three decades.
"All the time we were working together, we treated each other as colleagues," Pepperberg said, adding, "We worked with each other and cared about each other as you would with anyone that you work with."
In a statement Thursday, the publisher called the book a story "of bonds built over time that transcend species barriers," and how Alex and Pepperberg "battled against the prejudices of the academic establishment, which debated rigorously the ability of any other species to learn the human language."
Alex's advanced language and recognition skills revolutionized our understanding of the avian brain. After Pepperberg bought Alex from an animal shop in 1973, the parrot learned enough English to identify 50 objects, seven colors and five shapes.
"The attitudes toward animal intelligence was really quite different than what it is today really because of what Alex did," Pepperberg said.
Alex was in his 30s when he was found dead in his cage last fall, well short of the African grey parrot's average life span of 50 years.
Pepperberg said Alex's death freed her from the objective view of their relationship that her scientific research required. "After he passed, sort of a dam of emotion broke, and it was OK for me to mourn him and to express myself in a way that not possible for me before," Pepperberg said.
-Noah Bein contributed reporting.
The memoir, tentatively titled "Alex and Me," covers Pepperberg's 30 years with the parrot that could count to six, identify colors and even express frustration with repetitive scientific trials. It will be released this fall by Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Pepperberg said she plans to explore the evolution of her relationship with the parrot, a bond that she said grew stronger as they collaborated on a daily basis over three decades.
"All the time we were working together, we treated each other as colleagues," Pepperberg said, adding, "We worked with each other and cared about each other as you would with anyone that you work with."
In a statement Thursday, the publisher called the book a story "of bonds built over time that transcend species barriers," and how Alex and Pepperberg "battled against the prejudices of the academic establishment, which debated rigorously the ability of any other species to learn the human language."
Alex's advanced language and recognition skills revolutionized our understanding of the avian brain. After Pepperberg bought Alex from an animal shop in 1973, the parrot learned enough English to identify 50 objects, seven colors and five shapes.
"The attitudes toward animal intelligence was really quite different than what it is today really because of what Alex did," Pepperberg said.
Alex was in his 30s when he was found dead in his cage last fall, well short of the African grey parrot's average life span of 50 years.
Pepperberg said Alex's death freed her from the objective view of their relationship that her scientific research required. "After he passed, sort of a dam of emotion broke, and it was OK for me to mourn him and to express myself in a way that not possible for me before," Pepperberg said.
-Noah Bein contributed reporting.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Chris Campbell
posted 1/16/08 @ 8:02 AM EST
This is very good news for those of us who love and grieve for Alex along with Dr.Pepperberg.
People express grief, in different ways, and I hope that writing this memoir of Alex will help heal the badly broken hearts of Dr. (Continued…)
Lynne Watts
posted 1/17/08 @ 12:23 AM EST
Dr Pepperberg and Alex have helped me take note of something very important right here in my home. The more time I spend with my birds the more I can appreciate their intelligence, emotions and each with their own unique personality. (Continued…)
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