Is Jemma's Alfie this smart? — Forum Archive

21 May 2008, 06:27

TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help. ADVERTISEMENT

Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said.

He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.

"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.

The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.

But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.

"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.

21 May 2008, 06:34

Yes, he probably is this smart. I have taught him a number of phrases and sayings over the years and he tends to use them at the right time.

However I would be tempted to give him a dud address. If he ever 'escapes' again I don't want him coming back!*

* Not really - but he's recently chewed a very expensive handbag, a weekend bag, my favourite shoes and my laptop wire.

21 May 2008, 07:12

He's done well to recite an address in Tokyo. None of the roads have names there. You need a degree to be a postman.

21 May 2008, 07:16

WHAT's it all ABOUT? :evil4:

21 May 2008, 07:27

Nakamura....Nakamura...

the name sounds familiar...

21 May 2008, 07:55

Dodjem wrote: Yes, he probably is this smart. I have taught him a number of phrases and sayings over the years and he tends to use them at the right time.

However I would be tempted to give him a dud address. If he ever 'escapes' again I don't want him coming back!*

* Not really - but he's recently chewed a very expensive handbag, a weekend bag, my favourite shoes and my laptop wire.

Actually, I have my doubts that YOU can recall your address...

21 May 2008, 10:30

I have it tattoo'd to my right palm.

So I won't be moving again.

Incidentally, I've just witnessed an awful sight while in a traffic jam on the way home. A magpie was on the pavement messing with something. As I got nearer I realised it had a little starling pinned to the floor and was pecking it to pieces. Bits of feather and guts everywhere. Another starling kept swooping down in vain, trying to help.

I know it's nature but it's really upset me.

21 May 2008, 17:46

Alfie can sing CEREMONY!!!

21 May 2008, 20:43

if i had a parakeet, i'm pretty sure it would get eaten by a pigeon wearing a sombrero hat...cos little mexico has infiltrated the ass of all pigeons thus the shit landing on the car is always green....that could only mean one thing...a case of the farts.

or a case of wrong place wrong time for the poor parakeet...talking about monster pigeons here...

21 May 2008, 23:06

Awww... how sweet.

22 May 2008, 10:14

Dodjem wrote: I have it tattoo'd to my right palm.

So I won't be moving again.

Incidentally, I've just witnessed an awful sight while in a traffic jam on the way home. A magpie was on the pavement messing with something. As I got nearer I realised it had a little starling pinned to the floor and was pecking it to pieces. Bits of feather and guts everywhere. Another starling kept swooping down in vain, trying to help.

I know it's nature but it's really upset me.

I know what you mean. In California the population of ravens went from nothing when I was a kid, to the most seen bird around here. I have an strong distaste for them. When I was 12, I saw a mother and father Brown Shrikes trying to protect their nest by dive bombing on the raven (who wasn't even fazed). The raven picked up the baby bird, threw it in the air, caught it whole and swallowed it... it did this to all three babies. The raven left and you could see the parent Shrikes around thier empty nest... from then on thier singing never sounded as happy as it did before.

There are no predators for these blasted birds, so I shoot them with my pellet gun when ever I get a chance.... they really have taken over the area, so much so that there are very few singing birds anymore.

But anyways, the thought of that event still upsets me to this day... so I know what you mean...