Live Life Like a Parrot

I’ve decided to live my life like a parrot! To be as single-minded and determined as Woody, our African Grey, is when he has his beady eye on something.

Destructive Woody parrot (Photo: Nancy Benn)

We never noticed that we had squeaks on the door hinge or tap, until 10 years ago when we had a parrot who copied these sounds. Enter Woody, then a ten year old Africal Grey parrot who notices and hears everything, but glance over at him, and he’ll likely be nonchalantly chewing his claws.

Woody chooses what he wants to learn and that’s not necessarily what we’re trying to teach him! We’ll repeat words or phrases over and over, but without any acknowledgement or response. However, he’s particularly quick at anticipating our actions.

Woody was gradually growing back his chest feathers. (Photo: Nancy Benn)

Put a cup down and Woody will make the ‘thud’ sound microseconds before the cup makes contact with the table.

Pick-up a cable of any kind and he’ll make the ‘plink-plonk’ noise that you hear when plugging a charger into a smart phone.

If I grab my handbag, or put on outdoor shoes, we’ll hear “See you in a bit” from Woody as he anticipates the phrase we always say as we leave the house for a while.