A facebook post I wanted to blog further on...

Long bird related post. My African Gray, Georgie, does something's that chimps cannot do. 1. She understands what pointing at something means. Chimps don't get that. Dogs do. Chimps don't. 2. The other thing (and I think the most impressive) is that when she was having trouble carrying a treat to her perch, I said, "Do you need help? Let me help you." She drops the treat in the dish and walks to her perch, at which point I hand her the treat. Think of that. She understood what I asked. She understood my point of view (what I wanted). She planned her actions in anticipation of receiving help from a trusted friend. (Chimps often can't figure THAT one out either.) 3. And yes, birds do calculus. In the air, in their heads, without writing it down. I love my birds and maybe sometimes I bore people with the info but, you know what's important, I found creatures to love and I love them. I actively love them. I take care of them because I want to. I don't care if they make the house a little tough to clean. I'd rather have them flying around the apartment than a visitor who might be scared of my "kids" visit for ten minutes. I love my little guys too. The ones that, most of the time, don't have much use for me. The three keets just fly around doing their thing all day and rarely come visit me. I hate to shortchange the other birds when I post about George. The only reason I focus on George is because her actions are the most spectacular to non-bird people. But, listen, when you love a bird, bird things start to impress you too. Zorro, God rest her little soul, built a next in my bathroom. Charlie took care of her when she was sick and died of heartbreak when she died. Jim lays eggs periodically and when she does, she (all ten inches, head to tail, of her) will defend her area like a tasmanian devil. Mac says very few words but has more conversation skill with the inflections he uses in his few words that you know exactly what he means. They're all awesome. BLOG