Buster's sense of humor is outrageous. He loves to tease us and laugh when we screw up!
"You''re silly!", he'll shout then waiting for a response which we will reply, "I'm not silly! You're the silly one!". He then repeats his silly statement followed by "Neenerneenerneener." Then he laughs. One time he responded by saying, "No, I'm the bird!"
My husband Dennis plays poker on the computer and Buster is in his cage right behind him. When he wasn't doing too well one day, he decided to go all in and lost. Buster commented, "That was stupid!" Didn't do much for Dennis' attitude!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
THE WATER FAUCET
My husband and son bought a new kitchen faucet. When they came home with their purchase, they put the box on the table and we all gathered around to open it. I hadn't seen it and Buster couldn't see it because he was behind us.
We got the box open and while we were admiring it, Buster, apparently frustrated that he couldn't see it said loudly, "WHAT...IS...IT?" He really got our attention!
Of course we had to take it over to him so he could see it and touch it with his beak.
African Grays intelligence is unbelievable. He was never taught to say this. He learned to talk by observation, not us drilling words into his head. This is why his speech is so appropriate and why he can make up his own sentences. Sometimes the sentences are very basic, other times they are fully complete with correct verbs, etc. He continually shocks us with what he knows and what he says!
We got the box open and while we were admiring it, Buster, apparently frustrated that he couldn't see it said loudly, "WHAT...IS...IT?" He really got our attention!
Of course we had to take it over to him so he could see it and touch it with his beak.
African Grays intelligence is unbelievable. He was never taught to say this. He learned to talk by observation, not us drilling words into his head. This is why his speech is so appropriate and why he can make up his own sentences. Sometimes the sentences are very basic, other times they are fully complete with correct verbs, etc. He continually shocks us with what he knows and what he says!
Monday, July 20, 2009
IS IT BUSTER?...OR THE PHONE, THE MICROWAVE, ETC.?
African Grays don't squawk. They whistle and make all sorts of sounds ranging from sawing and hammering to snapping sounds to old car squeals and car alarms. We never taught Buster to speak. Because of his intelligence he is able to observe situations, body language and tone of voice. He is never wrong in his response.
African Grays are masters of imitation. When we start to fry something, Buster starts the "smoke alarm" sound. This would be bad enough but then a real one goes off and then our second one. We then have three smoke alarms sounding off at once!
Most times when we use the microwave, even though Buster can't see us he can hear the microwave door. Just as we push the first number, Buster makes the "microwave beep". Now we aren't sure if we pushed the number or not. I once set a mug of coffee to heat for 444 seconds instead of 45. I had quite a mess to clean up.
He loves to answer the phone and imitating the answering machine. One day he said, "Hello, this is Carol and Dennis"...and he added, and the bird!" He follows up with undetermined jabber as though he is leaving a message.
Our son birdsat only once. Because he worked nights, he slept during the day or at least he tried to do so. When we came home, our son greeted us with bloodshot eyes. Apparently Buster "hammered and sawed" so loudly each day along with all his other sounds and talking, that our son hadn't slept for three days. He never agreed to birdsit again!
Another time our son tried to take a nap on our couch. Next to the couch was a lamp with a copper shade. Well...unfortunately on the other side of the lamp was Buster on top of his cage. As soon as our son put his head down on the pillow, Buster leaned over and starting tapping on the metal shade. No nap for our son that day!
African Grays are masters of imitation. When we start to fry something, Buster starts the "smoke alarm" sound. This would be bad enough but then a real one goes off and then our second one. We then have three smoke alarms sounding off at once!
Most times when we use the microwave, even though Buster can't see us he can hear the microwave door. Just as we push the first number, Buster makes the "microwave beep". Now we aren't sure if we pushed the number or not. I once set a mug of coffee to heat for 444 seconds instead of 45. I had quite a mess to clean up.
He loves to answer the phone and imitating the answering machine. One day he said, "Hello, this is Carol and Dennis"...and he added, and the bird!" He follows up with undetermined jabber as though he is leaving a message.
Our son birdsat only once. Because he worked nights, he slept during the day or at least he tried to do so. When we came home, our son greeted us with bloodshot eyes. Apparently Buster "hammered and sawed" so loudly each day along with all his other sounds and talking, that our son hadn't slept for three days. He never agreed to birdsit again!
Another time our son tried to take a nap on our couch. Next to the couch was a lamp with a copper shade. Well...unfortunately on the other side of the lamp was Buster on top of his cage. As soon as our son put his head down on the pillow, Buster leaned over and starting tapping on the metal shade. No nap for our son that day!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
MR. MANNERS
As I wrote last time, Buster is the Commander in the house. He also picked up on appropriate manners.
He is not friendly to visitors, especially the cleaning ladies and their vacuum. My husband rescued him the last time the cleaning ladies were vacuuming around his cage because he was screaming in fear like a small child. When the cleaning ladies stepped out the front door to leave, Buster said "Thank you!". The boss cleaning lady came back in to collect her check and turned around to step out the door, Buster, again, said "Thank you!" The ladies laughed knowing Buster was glad to get rid of them. (Remember, last time I wrote about how Buster gets people to leave.)
Often when Buster gets his food, seeds or water he also says "Thank you!"
The other day when Buster asked, "Are you ready to watch TV?", and I replied, "Yes.", Buster said, "Thank you!"
His speech is always appropriate to the situation. He also adds the emotion he picked up at the time he learned it. We only taught him to say one thing, "Neener, neener, neener." hoping he would say this to our son but he hasn't so far. We carry on simply conversations with Buster often the instigator. Birds love to interact with each other and us so to not respond is cruel. Sometimes the conversation is the same one we've had many times with some variations but we respond anyway.
He is not friendly to visitors, especially the cleaning ladies and their vacuum. My husband rescued him the last time the cleaning ladies were vacuuming around his cage because he was screaming in fear like a small child. When the cleaning ladies stepped out the front door to leave, Buster said "Thank you!". The boss cleaning lady came back in to collect her check and turned around to step out the door, Buster, again, said "Thank you!" The ladies laughed knowing Buster was glad to get rid of them. (Remember, last time I wrote about how Buster gets people to leave.)
Often when Buster gets his food, seeds or water he also says "Thank you!"
The other day when Buster asked, "Are you ready to watch TV?", and I replied, "Yes.", Buster said, "Thank you!"
His speech is always appropriate to the situation. He also adds the emotion he picked up at the time he learned it. We only taught him to say one thing, "Neener, neener, neener." hoping he would say this to our son but he hasn't so far. We carry on simply conversations with Buster often the instigator. Birds love to interact with each other and us so to not respond is cruel. Sometimes the conversation is the same one we've had many times with some variations but we respond anyway.
Monday, June 22, 2009
THE COMMANDER
Buster, my seventeen year old African Gray parrot, knows how to get people to do what he wants. He never gets bored repeating his commands so he can keep it up forever if he chooses. If you don't comply he gets even by biting, refusing to come out of his house where he sits pouting on his perch or if he is out of the cage he spins around and moons me with his red butt! Often I get the "raspberries" sound when he is disgusted.
When he decides to go to sleep for the night he says, "Time to go night!" If that doesn't work, he either repeats that or says, "Gotta take a snooze! If I still haven't covered him up, he repeats these phrases and gets louder and louder until I comply. I am completely trained.
He demands I get him out of his cage to "watch TV". "Time to watch TV!", he screams over and over, adding, "Are you ready?"...Wanna come?...Wanna play? and on and on until I come and let him out. He is quite the task master.
Buster will even tell me to "take a break" sensing when I am working too much and is always accurate. If I yawn he tells me to "take a snooze".
He also decides when people have stayed too long or he doesn't particularly like them. Usually he starts off with, "Gotta go!". After saying that a few times he adds "See ya later!" He keeps this up until the people say they have to get going and as soon as they step out the door Buster says, "Thank you!" Very effective, indeed!
When I was having some flooring tiled, the workman always shared his burrito lunch with Buster. However, one day the workman came after lunch. Buster insisted on his treat by repeating "treat...treat....treat...etc." until the workman, dropped what he was doing, went and got a burrito and shared it with Buster!
While Buster's persistence makes everyone a bit crazy at times, he shows me how to not give up on what I want and to just hang in there and it will show up!
When he decides to go to sleep for the night he says, "Time to go night!" If that doesn't work, he either repeats that or says, "Gotta take a snooze! If I still haven't covered him up, he repeats these phrases and gets louder and louder until I comply. I am completely trained.
He demands I get him out of his cage to "watch TV". "Time to watch TV!", he screams over and over, adding, "Are you ready?"...Wanna come?...Wanna play? and on and on until I come and let him out. He is quite the task master.
Buster will even tell me to "take a break" sensing when I am working too much and is always accurate. If I yawn he tells me to "take a snooze".
He also decides when people have stayed too long or he doesn't particularly like them. Usually he starts off with, "Gotta go!". After saying that a few times he adds "See ya later!" He keeps this up until the people say they have to get going and as soon as they step out the door Buster says, "Thank you!" Very effective, indeed!
When I was having some flooring tiled, the workman always shared his burrito lunch with Buster. However, one day the workman came after lunch. Buster insisted on his treat by repeating "treat...treat....treat...etc." until the workman, dropped what he was doing, went and got a burrito and shared it with Buster!
While Buster's persistence makes everyone a bit crazy at times, he shows me how to not give up on what I want and to just hang in there and it will show up!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
THROWN OUT BY A BIRD!
African Gray parrots can be very commanding and Buster is no exception.
Whenever we have company, Buster apparently makes an assessment of them and makes a decision about whether or not he likes them. He also assesses how long they stay and has some kind of measurement that determines when they have been here long enough.
The less desirable guests or those who have dared to stay too long in Buster's estimation are treated to the following commands:
"See ya later....gotta go...see ya later...gotta go...and on and on."
Finally the guests will start to feel uncomfortable and says "I guess I better be leaving." I try to tell them not to listen to Buster but they leave anyway.
Then to top it all off, Buster says, "Thank you!" when their first foot crosses the doorway outside!
Whenever we have company, Buster apparently makes an assessment of them and makes a decision about whether or not he likes them. He also assesses how long they stay and has some kind of measurement that determines when they have been here long enough.
The less desirable guests or those who have dared to stay too long in Buster's estimation are treated to the following commands:
"See ya later....gotta go...see ya later...gotta go...and on and on."
Finally the guests will start to feel uncomfortable and says "I guess I better be leaving." I try to tell them not to listen to Buster but they leave anyway.
Then to top it all off, Buster says, "Thank you!" when their first foot crosses the doorway outside!
Monday, June 8, 2009
THE PLAN
When my daughter moved to California she stayed with us for a week until she could get into her new place. She brought her small "mop" dog, named Sandy. with her who found Buster fascinating. I casually watched Buster and Sandy interact from the kitchen table.
One morning my daughter and I sat at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee. I saw Buster's cage door was open and Buster stood at the bottom of the cage in the open doorway eating. A newspaper collected the food he dropped. Sandy ran over and gobbled up the dropped food. Then she went under the kitchen table and stared at Buster hoping he'd drop more food.
Well, Buster didn't like being stared at and soon he started rocking back and forth and whirling around nervously. I watched Buster, after pausing for a moment, he went over to his food dish, grabbed some food in his beak, ran over to the opening and dropped the food on the newspaper.
Sandy immediately ran over and bent her head down to grab the food. Instantly, Buster reached down and pulled a wad of fur off the top of Sandy's head! Sandy let out with a big yelp and that was the last time she tried to eat food off Buster's newspaper...and...she stopped staring at Buster!
Buster, only three years old at the time, determined what the problem was, who caused it, figured out what else dog's did, planned out how to get the dog to come to him and then what the punishment would be. He carried out his plan perfectly solving his problem!
Determining and executing a plan shows the African Grays' incredible intelligence. Their owners must be on their toes because their African Gray has all the time in the world to out-think them! We have had many a battle of wits with Buster. Usually he wins or gets bored with the whole thing. When we do win, we celebrate!
One morning my daughter and I sat at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee. I saw Buster's cage door was open and Buster stood at the bottom of the cage in the open doorway eating. A newspaper collected the food he dropped. Sandy ran over and gobbled up the dropped food. Then she went under the kitchen table and stared at Buster hoping he'd drop more food.
Well, Buster didn't like being stared at and soon he started rocking back and forth and whirling around nervously. I watched Buster, after pausing for a moment, he went over to his food dish, grabbed some food in his beak, ran over to the opening and dropped the food on the newspaper.
Sandy immediately ran over and bent her head down to grab the food. Instantly, Buster reached down and pulled a wad of fur off the top of Sandy's head! Sandy let out with a big yelp and that was the last time she tried to eat food off Buster's newspaper...and...she stopped staring at Buster!
Buster, only three years old at the time, determined what the problem was, who caused it, figured out what else dog's did, planned out how to get the dog to come to him and then what the punishment would be. He carried out his plan perfectly solving his problem!
Determining and executing a plan shows the African Grays' incredible intelligence. Their owners must be on their toes because their African Gray has all the time in the world to out-think them! We have had many a battle of wits with Buster. Usually he wins or gets bored with the whole thing. When we do win, we celebrate!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
