Parrot arrested for aiding drug cartel

Please look up Alex the African grey parrot (deceased). He did have quite a strong, though limited, understanding of what he was saying. Extremely familiar with him, and met Irene Pepperburg briefly at a convention back in the early 90s. Also met renowned trainer Mattie Sue Athens a couple of times. Alex was extraordinary, but he was the exception not the rule. And, Grey's are noted for being able to do some cognitive reasoning... but training a huge flock of birds as watch birds? And amazons at that? Nope, still not buying it. And, the amazon from the story babbled that phrase over and over a... [More]

Extremely familiar with him, and met Irene Pepperburg briefly at a convention back in the early 90s. Also met renowned trainer Mattie Sue Athens a couple of times. Alex was extraordinary, but he was the exception not the rule. Ah, I must have misunderstood your original meaning. And, Grey's are noted for being able to do some cognitive reasoning... but training a huge flock of birds as watch birds? And amazons at that? Nope, still not buying it. And, the amazon from the story babbled that phrase over and over again even once at the police station which is a clear indication it's just a phrase ... [More]

Bad bird! Incarcerate it in complete isolation! :angry2:

Aww poor bird. These people are such idiots, arresting a parrot! Really people??! Is this what the world has come to? Murderers are free, Rapists are free, but a parrot is under arrest? Not to mention investigating pigeons for spying?? Where is the love? Aww poor bird. These people are such idiots, arresting a parrot! Really people??! Is this what the world has come to? Murderers are free, Rapists are free, but a parrot is under arrest? Not to mention investigating pigeons for spying?? Where is the love?

that's priceless that..........

I'll grant this, totally. But, it should be noted that dogs are hierarchical and have evolved to listen to you, to try to gather context from you. Parrots aren't; they live for themselves. So they aren't that inclined to intrinsically find the context in your speech and apply it to their own. I think the biggest difference is that dogs have been domesticated for thousands and thousands of years. Parrots on the other hand, even when born and raised in captivity are still wild animals and no where near domestication. With 2 exceptions. English Budgies and Lovebirds are considered domesticated, c... [More]

Execute it!

I think the biggest difference is that dogs have been domesticated for thousands and thousands of years. Parrots on the other hand, even when born and raised in captivity are still wild animals and no where near domestication. With 2 exceptions. English Budgies and Lovebirds are considered domesticated, cockaties are near domestication status. The big parrots have a LONG way to go. Yeah, that's what I meant. Dogs are evolved to listen to us, parrots aren't.

Hmmmm.... I think the police are jumping to conclusions. It's actually quite difficult maybe impossible to 'teach' a parrot to say phrases especially in context. "Freddy" is a yellow-fronted amazon parrot, and make no mistake, they can be extremely good talkers and like African Grey parrots are known for their clarity. But just because they speak clearly, doesn't mean they know what they are saying. They will say it because they like the sound of the phrase, but the words don't mean anything to them. And getting them to use a phrase in context (like during a police raid) without any prompting ... [More]

Even if the parrot does not understand what it is saying parrots species have the ability for cause and effect. They prob trained them to say that when they see a person. no different from a parrot saying a certain phrase only when a person walks in the room. Of course they aren't arresting and locking the bird in a cell. that is just a catchy headline to catch and eye. This does not surprise me that the cartel is using guard parrots (lol dogs are yesterday's guards.) The cartels are sick cunning and evil people imo void of humanity. they can never be underestimated