RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
Cherie Mascis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I had to fire a parrot from our Marine World show because it would say "shit" under it's breath while it was doing tricks, and it would be picked up by the microphone! Cherie I have a B&G that does a great "cafe scene from When Harry Met Sally". YIKES!! Not good when we had teenagers in the house! Luckily it's rare that she does it anymore. But it did take a couple of years before she dropped it from her repetiore after coming to live with us! Cheryl www.toltallyice.com
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
>>lately when i walk into the room my african grey screams WE'RE HAVIN A PARTY!!" in the most happiest thrilled tone. Its baffling since i dont believe my husband nor I have ever uttered those words in my life, not like he does. Janice<< African Grays and Amazon parrots love words spoken loudly and emphatically and loud sound effects. They often pick up sounds like things shouted on TV, cuss words, squeaky doors, barking dogs, bedroom sounds and other things we would rather they not repeat! I had to fire a parrot from our Marine World show because it would say "shit" under it's breath while it was doing tricks, and it would be picked up by the microphone! Cherie
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
>>> lately when i walk into the room my african grey screams WE'RE HAVIN A >>> PARTY!!" in the most happiest thrilled tone. When Smokey was first learning to talk, I noticed her saying "This" in a deep, manly voice. It took me a while to figure it out...why would a bird say, "This." Finally, about a week later, she spit it all out. In her best James Earl Jones voice, she said, "THISis Headline News." That tells you what's on our TV most of the time - CNN or FOX. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.15/1002 - Release Date: 9/11/2007 5:46 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
We had to laugh out loud. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
lately when i walk into the room my african grey screams WE'RE HAVIN A PARTY!!" in the most happiest thrilled tone. Its baffling since i dont believe my husband nor I have ever uttered those words in my life, not like he does. Sounds like entering a motel room at panama city beach at spring break! My sister thinks he got it from oprah which I record every day while I am at work. Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
Until fairly recently (12-15 years ago), most parrots were often wild-caught adult imports (age unknown), I always heard that most imported were probably young, since mature birds are much harder to catch...Who really knows? Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.15/1002 - Release Date: 9/11/2007 5:46 PM
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
>>> How sad. Isn't 31 young for a parrot to die?>> We had a macaw at Busch Gardens that was 87, and had several 40-60 year olds. There was one cockatoo that the San Diego zoo had that was just over 100 when it died. The smaller parrots-grays and amazons have lived 50-60 years but that is a high-end number. Until fairly recently (12-15 years ago), most parrots were often wild-caught adult imports (age unknown), subjected to a great deal of stress coming into the US and then not adapting well to being a household pet. Add to that, poorly understood dietary requirements, and nonexistent veterinary knowledge. Now, most birds are captive bred and anyone who makes a slight effort can get good info. on proper care, and there are many more vets who specialize in avian care. Parrots should be able to live to a ripe old age now! Cherie
Re: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
I'm not telling Bruce. We have had Rocky, an orange wing Amazon for about 20 years. He doesn't talk, but he laughs just like me. Siggy, an Indian Ringneck Parakeet (gone where good birds go) did call the dog, "Emily", clear as a bell. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
>>> How sad. Isn't 31 young for a parrot to die? I'm not sure that anyone really knows. Rumor has it that the bigger parrots, Grays, Amazons and macaws, can live up to 100 years, but "average" is just a guess. Parrots aren't registered to an owner, and since they live so long, often outliving their owners, many times people get mixed up or forget exactly how old they are...plus, I'm sure there is an element of "age inflation" sometimes - just as horses often suffer from "height inflation." We've had our macaw for 13 years, and we believe he was at least 14 when we got him - so he's probably in the 25-30-ish year range, maybe even older. I was shocked when the avian vet told us that Crackers is the oldest of his clients, and by a good bit. So, I'm pretty comfortable that Alex wasn't close to being an age record-holder, but I'm not sure that we really know how close to average that made him. I'm pretty sure that some of the zoos have sufficiently reliable records to prove that a few macaws have indeed lived to be around 100. Bruce has always wanted an African Gray. They are just the best. My Smokey is pushing 14, and I've had her since she was about a year old, when she was just learning to talk. We don't "teach" her to talk - it's just like having a kid around. She can freely mix words to make her own meanings. She was saying, "Frank! Here, boy!" Followed by a whistle within a couple of hours of his arrival. She immediately picked up his name, and inserted it into the other doggy phrases she knows. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
How sad. Isn't 31 young for a parrot to die? Bruce has always wanted an African Gray. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Alex the African Gray: O/T
How sad. He was a very cool bird. Cherie