lovethatgrey

That was really enjoyable to watch! She's adorable and what a great tree stand!! Ah.. she loves her apple!!

Well.. I figured out how to do this and managed to capture her monologuing again. Here is some of what she is saying! It's ok, It's ok Good Job Emma Ok boobie, mommy has to go? You ready I love you very much my Sachi pie pie Come on Good Job my Sachi.. You're so smart Peekaboo Good job! Good job my Sachi Cuckoo What's wrong? You're so smart! Wow! Emma and Sachi.. so smart! You're so....... Come on! Let's go! You ready?

Emma finally approves and touched it for the first time. I purchased it at Chopperstoys! parrot toys by Choppers Toys. designed for the way your parrots play. safe parrot toys, foraging parrot toys, bird toy parts, natural parrot foods, bird gyms, perches http://chopperstoys.com/

I left my little girlies out for 40 minutes this morning. I think they enjoyed themselves. Made sure the sun was shining on their toes for needed vitamin D too. Thanks goodness warmer days have arrived

Do you remember that first moment? The moment where there was a shift in your relationship towards the positive and your parrot decided that you were trustworthy? With Sachi... it happened by the 2nd week after going to visit her every single day while she was weaning. From afar, I could see she was snoozing or preening, when she heard my voice she perked up and went to the door ready to wait for it to open so she could step up on to me. I knew she trusted me because being with her just felt different after that day. Sachi's always been gentle with me but she wasn't always cuddly. Now, she is pretty affectionate. Emma... took alot longer to trust me and it took me alot longer to trust her as well. I didn't find it very easy reading "african grey" body language and we had some bumpy times at the beginning even though she was a baby. I was STRONGLY considering to change my mind about taking her home and was ready to give her up. Her bites were unpredictable and I was becoming more afraid of handling her. I feared that she would give me more injuries before my other injuries could heal. I wasn't looking forward to my visits with her. I also resented taking time away from Sachi because I had to make time for an african grey who was giving me physical pain. The moment of trust occurred one night when I spoke to her softly and she bent her head down for a scritch and waited. That was the first time she had ever done that and she was probably 4 months old at the time. We had known each other since she was 10 weeks old and I had visited every single day. I'm very glad that I persisted in the face of resistance because TODAY Emma is so loving, so gentle, trusting and so happy go lucky.

Please turn up your volumes. This is a recording of my african grey Emma. You hear me at the very end saying "hi Emma, How are ya? Here's a list of what she is saying. Lots of Silliness!! Scratchies Hi Sachi! Hickory Bean.. My name..my name Salad 4 What a great Kiss Come boobie 1 1 11 4 2 1 3 2 7 6 12 14 Roses are red and corn Salad and some mango Emma and Sachi Sachi and Carriage Mommy has to go to the store. Come, Mommy's going to get some mashie and mango and vegetables, Wow!! Hi Sachi Hi my Baby girl! Good Job Whoa!! Hasha, fall down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ-1rrmVqvg

Haha!! What a comedian Dayo can be!! I also love that Harvey says Howay!!! I can't think of anything specific for Emma but she certainly does make up her own phrases and alot of them give me a good chuckle.

I've been thinking about this topic and I would definitely agree with you Talon. I have heard from Ekkie and Cockatoo owners and their parrots are incredible speakers as well. They are also extremely intelligent when it comes to figuring out puzzles and escaping their cages somehow. I think that the leverage that african gresy have over other parrots in "general" is that they have very clear voices and are easier to understand. Today I highly suspect that other species of parrots are equally as intelligent as african greys, it just isn't always as obvious because they don't always "communicate" as well. jmo

Wowee! That's quite a repertoire Dan!! What a clever Mr. Dayo!!

Hot peppers are fine as long as not offered too much in excess. Although they do not feel the "hotness" of the peppers on their tongues, their digestive systems might find it a bit irritating if too much is offered. Emma and Sachi love their hot peppers!!

I agree that african greys ROCK!!

I think that the african grey ability to mimic surpasses most species of parrot. Whether they choose to exercise that ability or have an interest in speaking human is another matter.

Thanks Luvparrots. Emma and I have a very special relationship. I am not complaining in any way but I must admit that this wasn't at all what I thought I was signing up for, nor did I ever imagine that I would have this type of relationship with a parrot. I knew african greys were intelligent but I think I had underestimated just how much. African greys are truly very special. One does not realize how special until they live with one. Not sure how I feel about admitting this, but often I don't feel like Emma is my pet parrot. Sachi feels like my pet parrot. Most recently I've come to the realization that I often feel like Emma is this little person with feathers. I don't know if this is because of her clever ability to speak the human language and answer me in correct context. Perhaps it is because she seems so much more intelligent than what I expect of in a parrot. When I speak to her, I have observed her many times concentrate on what I say to her. She doesn't simply "parrot things". She responds appropriately. She really seems to understand almost everything. There are times when I come home and I'm so tired and would rather be silent. With Emma, I feel I can't do that because she literally seems to thrive on verbal interaction. I can only imagine how much more I'd see from her if I were someone who worked from home. We make the effort because we don't want Emma feeling like something is "wrong with her human" flock". (parrots are very empathic) The mornings are the hardest for me because I'd rather be quiet and enjoy the morning, Emma wants to yak and chatter, but not by herself. She wants us to be engaged in what she is saying so we must join in and cheer her on. When I leave my home, I find myself making a point of letting the both of my parrots know where I am going. I do this so they can differentiate the difference between when I say I am going "to work" and when I say I am going "shopping" . If I say I am going to work then they can expect not to see me for ALL day. When I say I am going shopping, they can expect to see in a few hours or less. I think parrots do well when they know what to expect. I make alot of little concessions like this with Emma and I feel confident that it helps our relationship alot

In the last 2 weeks, Emma officially says "no more" and also seems to understand the meaning/ concept behind this phrase. I have noticed lately that whenever she has finished eating or is no longer interested in eating what ever I am offering, she'll say "no more" out loud and then she'll turn around and walk away. She seems to use this phrase to inform me that she is "done" or no longer interested. I've been thinking about the specific context when we have used this phrase with her and usually it has been when we are offering her something to eat. We would say "no more" when there was nothing left to offer or when it seemed like she was expecting to be offered some more. I think this is a very neat observation and I supposed that I should be grateful that she cares enough to say "no more" and then walk away, rather than JUST walk away and point her redtail in my direction. Bwahahahahaha!!

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Yes, I've noticed the frequent calibration that goes on with Emma. I just think it's very impressive that greys can not only mimic a language but also "sound" like the person who is talking. I speak 4 languages fluently, yet I still keep my same voice.

I don't expect to have an answer to this question.. I'm just sharing thoughts because I've been thinking about this topic quite a bit tonight. Not only can they mimic a big range of sounds but they can also mimic human language perfectly. I was listening to some of Emma's videos and with certain phrases, she not only has my accent but to my astonishment, she actually sounds like me. How do they do this? Are their voice boxes similar to humans?

Thanks Judy!!

Looking good!

Thanks Chelsea!!

I would rather not see them. I'd be too foolishly tempted to pick one up and then I'd have have 3 parrots instead of 2.

Once is fine and shouldn't do any serious harm. I made the same error and will not repeat it. Glad to know Hawkins is ok.

Hi Spock, It's me Emma. Wowee!! You are quite the wild handsome grey boy. None of that behaviour would fly in my home. My Mom is quite the structured one and she rules the roost. The only thing that I insist on is that my meal be served WARM. Not cold or warmish. WARM or I fling it and watch gravity do its thing. To my dismay, it's lights out at 8.10pm all year round no matter how NOT tired I am. I should definitely let her see what you have written so she knows how easy she has it with me. I just turned 2 years old last month…perhaps one of these days I will try my hand at being Empress of the Terrible twos. Bwahahahahahaha!!

With my pionus parrot Sachi, I can have her on my shoulder, be absent minded and never need to worry about being bitten. She is very gentle with me. With my african grey Emma, I do allow her on my shoulder but I must pay full attention and be very mindful. If Emma feels that I'm too distracted, she will not hesitate to use her beak on me. Basically, it's important to KNOW your parrot and exercise caution if you choose to allow them on your shoulder. I would never let a parrot I didn't know well on top of my shoulder.

Ah!! Thanks for the great update!!

Thanks Luvparrots and Dan!! Glad you enjoyed her!!