Conversations with Cosmo
At Home with an African Grey Parrot
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
In Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot, Dr. Betty Jean Craige tells the story of her parrot's education in the language and culture of her human friends. Cosmo is a seven-year-old female Congo African Grey Parrot who by the age of six had learned more than a hundred words and had uttered more than two hundred different phrases. Craige recounts how Cosmo learned to talk, developed social skills and a sense of humor, and became an adorable feathery little person, a real party animal. Cosmo is funny—her first joke was "Telephone for bird!"—and so is Craige. Craige's purpose in writing this very entertaining book is not only to report and explain her parrot's acquisition of language and cognitive abilities, but also—through Cosmo's story—to awaken readers to the mental activities of all the animals with whom we humans share space on our planet. The book has a preface by Irene Pepperberg, author of Alex and Me, and two appendices: a list of "Cosmo's utterances" and a list of "Forty-Four Tips for Living with an African Grey." Preface by Irene M. Pepperberg, author of The Alex Studies and Alex and Me
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fascinated with language acquisition in animals, University of Georgia humanities professor and animal lover Craige decided to add an African Grey to her household. In this charming memoir, she captures her experience with Cosmo the parrot, revealing not just the bird's capacity for language, but also for affection, opinion, sociability, and reasoning. Cosmo's conversation she utters some 250 words and phrases is engaging and surprising, evidencing a sly, exuberant personality with definite likes and dislikes. Craige makes larger points about the fallacy of human exceptionalism and the importance of "animal ambassadors" like Cosmo while providing intimate description of daily life with this intelligent bird and her four dogs (Alaskan Eskimos). Craige illustrates Cosmo's charms (and deceptions) with great humor and affection, but is entirely explicit regarding the extensive hands-on care these animals require (Cosmo has five different cages), as well as the characteristics of Greys raised in the wild and captivity. This thoughtful book should please and inspire animal-lovers, and give would-be parrot-owners an idea of the challenges and rewards. B&w photos.
