I haven't ever met a parrot, but that is adorable! They really are some of the smartest animals around. I did see one on tv, and that bird knew more words than some people I've met. Of course, Gunner thinks he would make a great snack, but he won't get that close to him.

My friend Carolyn has some awesome stories about her birds, but I would be doing an injustice to try to repeat them properly. I know that her small parrot Rocky takes a shower with her, and when she covers his cage at night he says "Night night, lover." We had a couple of cockatiels for several years. They could imitate the sound of the microwave perfectly. And another friend had a big parrot who like to tease their dog, Jack, by calling his name in the exact voice of their human. So when Jack would come running into the room looking for Kenny the only one there would be the parrot, laughing at him. He fell for it every time.

When my parents first met, my dad had a parrot, which was very very old. He came to live with my grandparents from a deceased great great aunt in Pittsburgh.....anyway, the bird hated my mom...maybe jealousy, but they always had to cover up the cage when she was around. Dad said he would always wake him up in the morning...."Wake up, Phil, time to get up, time to get up" and would just keep repeating it until he would see dad. He would also mimic the "rag men" that would come down the alley in their carts. Bud was his name and went back to live in Pittsburgh with my grandmother's cousin after grandma died in the late 40's (before I was born).

Wow, nice avatar. You guys must be movie stars or something! Mine is just all blue☺

i like your new pic!!! you guys are such a cute couple!!! ok, bird stories...LOL. i actually grew up with an african grey, named smokey. (i have had just about any kind of pet in my life, trust me)we got him in 1979, when i was 9. he was an x-mas present for the family, from mom and dad. (this is probably gonna be long, like everything i write, haha!;o) dad would put on this record (that's a vinyl thing with little lines, they played music and recordings, hehe)that was some kind of recording of a lady saying all kinds of words over, and over. it was for teaching parrots to talk, i guess. smokey would sit in his cage, listening very carefully, cocking his head at the record player. i don't remember him ever repeating anything the lady said, haha. when we'd leave for school, dad would turn on the tv for smokey. now, THAT, he repeated!!! remember tony the tiger? well, smokey started saying, "GRRRRRREAT!!!!" it was funny because he sounded just like tony the tiger! he'd also say, "HELLOOOOOOOOOOO" in this really funny voice, i assume he was mimicking dad, almost like making fun. that bird was ornery! as we got into high school, he's repeat other things, stuff my sister and i said...sometimes not meant for the parents to hear!!! like, "OH S$!T, MOM AND DAD'S HOME!!" (we were bad kids, what can i say?) he'd say, "KELLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYY.......GET OFF THE PHONE!!!!" that was always funny, especially when i was really on the phone. sometimes he's be calling me, and i'd be answering, because i thought it was actually my dad calling!!! too funny! my dad taught him the phrase "JUDY....WHERE'S BILL?" that is my aunt, and her husband was bill, they got the biggest kick out of that! what was really funny was how he would combine sounds, like sounds i can't even spell out, LOL! the girl who cleans my parents house once a week has a very distinct laugh. he decided he wanted to laugh like that, so he started doing it all the time. she would laugh, he'd mimic her, then she would laugh harder...it would go on for a long time, trust me! he was such a cool animal. a few years ago, he got really sick, with an upper respiratory infection. his vet was the one on keystone, a specialist. they took great care of him, he got a little better, but then sick again. they did a scope on his stomach, because he had a mass, and they weren't sure if it was some infection thing, or what. he woke up from the anesthetic, fighting and fussing, so they said they were happy to see that, but a little while later, he went downhill fast, and passed away. he was only about 26, the whole family was so sad. my nephew, he was the saddest, he was maybe about 7, he cried so hard. him and my dad had a "funeral" for smokey, out behind the garage, and my nephew wore his jeff gordon shirt, because he said smokey would have liked that. funny kid. my dad, who is a gruff old man, did cry, and as soon as they were done, he took everything from smokey's stuff, cage, food, bowls, etc, and he set them out on the street for the trash, because he did not want another bird, ever again. (dad also had a cockatoo in the 50's) smokey was such a mean old bird, he'd bite you any chance he got, LOL, but we all loved him, and i still miss hearing him say hello to me when i go to mom and dad's house. {sniff}

Your picture is SO cute!!! We always had parakeets growing up and we taught them all to talk. They don't live nearly as long as African Greys, and I don't think they're as smart but they are so much fun! My favorite was Bernie who I had through college. I can remember my parents went to Las Vegas for a few days and while they were gone I taught Bernie to say several things. His favorite spot in the house was on the mantle by the mirrors. He'd sit on the little lamp and talk to the handsome birdie in the mirror. He said his name, that was SO cute! When he was out flying around and it was time to put him back in his cage, I'd grab him and he'd say, "Bernie, Bernie, Bernie...etc." because he thought if he acted real cute, he'd get to stay out! LOL! Birds are awesome pets. I think I'd like a parrot in the house.

Jade - my dad's Hahns Macaw needs to be amused constantly. She will entertain herself by biting my mom and then laughing hysterically (bobbing her head up and down and stomping her foot) while my mom groans in pain. My father also has the same reaction!! *L*

What a great picture of you two. It's nice to put a face to our pets...maybe I'll get the nerve later.