Science Nation - Talk to the Animals

Most pet owners talk to their animals at one time or another, and some do every day. But how much do our pets actually understand? Is their perception anything like ours? These are the questions that fascinate Irene Pepperberg and she's looking for answers from the animals themselves, specifically -- African Grey Parrots. The Harvard psychology professor is a bit like the character Dr. Doolittle because she's been talking to parrots for decades. With help from the National Science Foundation, she's researching how much the birds understand about shapes, numbers and colors. Her next phase of research involves how the parrots detect optical illusions, and whether they perceive them the way humans do. Her research will also reveal more about how a bird's vision works.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• talk
• to
• the
• animals
• pets
• Irene
• Pepperberg
• African
• Grey
• Parrot
• Harvard
• University
• psychology
• Dr.
• Doolittle
• National
• Science
• Foundation
• birds
• parrots

[oklahomaisok]

My parakeets ask questions, make comments about what I'm doing. The female watches me go into the kitchen, asks what I'm cooking or if I pick up a plastic bottle she'll ask me what I'm drinking if she sees me looking at something ask me what I'm looking for. I have talked to my parakeets as if they were young children from the time I got them. Last winter I told her it was too cold to go outside & she scooted over to the other one and said "You have to stay in" relaying the message. Amazing

[yeoldecouchpotato]

Alfred Hitchcock warned us. 

[MegaJUMIOR]

ARTIST ULISSES JUNIOR POET OF LOVE

[borjan121]

When the birds take over the world dont say i told you so.lol

[arista0000]

Amazing, but is sad look their bodies lost many feathers... what happen there??? I guess that this people are professional, but maybe this study gives much stress to the birds... mmmmm

[360Today]

Awwwwwwwww the way it says corner:)

[veela93]

@majinosity you're kidding, right?? they do it like that because it's easier to the bird to pronounce words like "corner" instead of any squared form, it's an easier way to teach him the words

[aplny]

I wonder how well we could do if tested by animals in their languages and sensory perception. Based on smell, night vision, or hearing, my dogs must think I'm not very bright.

Why have these parrots picked out so many of their feathers?

[Fetzi18]

@majinosity

who cares? that's what they taught the bird to recognize and say, maybe he can't pronounce rectangle?

[Fetzi18]

@JustinDejong

you deaf?