On the awesomeness of a parrot

[kesslari]

Hawkins, our African Grey. Loves music. Loves James Brown. Loves when I play bass or sing or do both. Sings in tune when I play.

This morning I was setting up my bass to play, and I hear from Hawkins the EXACT sound that I make on the fretless bass when I slide a harmonic up from D to E and back.
In pitch. I set up and played it - he was spot on.

He's such a cool bird.

(edit) Video added: http://youtu.be/90v1vYD7CDM

Invalid Link Removed

 

[duff beer]

I've heard stories about parrots mimicking microwave beeps and phone ringers. They don't only pick sounds the owner likes to mimic.

I hope you really like your bird, because it might just live to be 80 or 90...

 

[kesslari]

We do. They are amazingly easy to bond with.
I didn't expect to (wife wanted the bird) but man, he's a keeper.

 

[Casting Thunder]

Recording or it didn't happen.

 

[GKon]

I think you should repost this on one of the conversations regarding the need or not of electronic tuners. Who needs an electronic tuner when you've got a parrot!

 

[Renaissance]

My wife and son were home one day when the living room ceiling fan started smoking, setting off the smoke alarm. The fire department was called and after they determined there wasn't a fire they began to relax a little. As if on cue our African Grey, Lucy mimics the smoke alarm. My wife said the firemen lost it trying to figure out what was happening!

I can't tell half the time if it's my wife or the bird calling me.

 

[deathsdj]

Cool.

You have a living tuner.

 

[Passinwind]

Way cool. Years ago I was jamming some slide bass feedback with my drummer and found a Western Scrub Jay sitting on my windowsill, looking in with his head cocked, presumably trying to figure out what those crazy humans were up to this time. Luckily he did not cop that sound though...

 

[fhm555]

Back in 01 when the doctor was talking about taking my left leg just below the knee I found me a nice piece of straight grained ash to turn a peg out of and started shopping for an eye patch and a parrot. Still got my leg, so the parrot will have to wait a while.

 

[phangtonpower]

yay birdie!!
I have an African Grey too. These little birds are so smart
My wife taught our bird a song and he can sing most of it in tune, but he is always flat on the last note ><
Then he'll say Jouzu, skillful in Japanese, and I'll say no!
Speaks English and Japanese.

Is your bird still a baby?

 

[Sozjot]

My folks had a cockatiel and it drove them mad making phone ringing noises - it was one way to get someone into the kitchen when he got bored. My grandmother had a galah that used to invite passers by in for a cup of tea.

 

[kesslari]

fhm555 - I'm glad you've still got your leg.

Phangtonpower - he's now 4 years old. We've taught him all sorts of crazy fun things - "Are you a pterodactyl?" is one of our favorites. That and (in a distorted Ozzy voice) "I AM IRON BIRD".

Sozjot - they will get bothersome if you ignore them. The trick is to give them plenty of attention, and particularly attention for things you want them to do.

He enjoys singing the horn line from War's "Low Rider", too

 

[hernameisrio]

I have a zebra finch named Atticus (see what I did there? ) and he starts going nuts in his cage and chirping along every time I play "Get Up Offa That Thing." What is it with birds and James Brown!?

 

[Bent77]

Sorry, thought the title was awesomeness of a carrot...

Seriously though, my sister's African Grey will sing a few words out of the songs he likes. Does the party whoop on key for songs that have that.

 

[kesslari]

He did it again today - it was clearly his way of saying "come play music!" (which he considers an interaction with him).
I got it on iphone video but from across the room, so he's too quiet for it to be really worth posting. Will try again though.

 

[kesslari]

For the guy who wanted a recording - crappy iPhone recording, but here you have it.
http://youtu.be/90v1vYD7CDM

 

[punkjazzben]

^That's very cool!

I've trying to teach my cat to play the guitar with little success. I might get a parrot and teach it to sing, and we can do a rendition of 'Fever' together.