Owned by an African Grey

[Tsali]

Hi guys, thanks for letting Tsali and me join your flock. A bit about myself - my name is Cindy and I live in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia. Along with Tsali, I share my life with a husband, 3 Yorkies, 5 miniature horses and 5 quarter horses.

We first met Tsali about 2 weeks after he hatched and started visiting him regularly until it was time for him to come home. He has been a true joy. We are determined that Tsali will NOT be phobic so I take him everywhere I feel he will be safe. He has more miles on him in his 17 months than many people have in a lifetime.

Of course he is very intelligent and he is very talkative. At first I taught him words and phrases "just for fun". In the past several weeks he has learned his phone number (mine actually) and we are starting on his email address -- that one is really his.:04:

I am so glad to be here and can't wait to get to know you guys -- skin and feather.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome!
You'll love this place. I do!

 

[Flboy]

Awesome! Welcome!!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, Cindy and Tsali! Wonderful introduction and phenomenal choice of teaching contact information. Thanks for raising a well-adjusted parrot!

 

[Tsali]

Aww thanks guys. There is more to the story, I'll tell it all once I learn my way around.

 

[happy410]

Welcome, glad you and Tsali joined us.

 

[SirEdwin89]

Fantastic to have you! welcome to a great place, full of smart people. And I'm here too!

 

[greytness]

Welcome! I'm owned by a CAG, too! Never a dull moment! Looking forward to hearing all about you and Tsali!

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. Great to hear about non phobic greys... the phobic ones get more press, since those owners seek answers to problem birds. Teaching your phone number, what good idea .
Anyhow , welcome to the "nut' house.

 

[Tsali]

So I'm a newby here and haven't quite figured out where to pust stuff -- so I'll just post it here -- if it's in the wrong place perhaps a wizzard moderator will help direct me to the proper posting place ---

Chapter I
So without mentioning any names I was reading a post on another social media site about an escapee parrot that was "found" and returned to his/her owner because it flew to a "stranger". Everyone was commenting that this was FANTASTIC until a spoil sport dude mentioned that it wasn't really a big deal that a parrot flew to a human - after all a captive bird's flock = humans. What he said was -- now it would really be AMAZING if the parrot said his phone number.

Well of course that did it for me, in a good way of course. Immediately I started working with Tsali, teaching him his phone number. So I would say, "Tsali, what's your phone number and then say my phone number. Then I would say YEAH and clap (clicker rewarding). It took maybe a couple of weeks for him to get "Tsali, my number is xxx. Big rewards happy dance (me). A week or so later he got all of the number except the area code. More work and lo and behold early one morning he said, "Tsali, my number is xxx-xxx-xxxx".

So I was asking Tsali his phone # and he was repeating it - you know, we were having a meaningful conversation. It got very quiet and Tsali said, "What's your number?" and just waited. So I said our number and as soon as I did Tsali said YEAH in my voice. That was amazing. My 17 month old African Grey Parrot asked me a question and rewarded me when I answered. Amazing.....

Chapter II

Hubby, oldest son, and I were talking and hubby says - what are you going to do when we move and get new phone ##'s? Son says - Tsali needs an email address. New project - teaching Tsali his gmail addy.

I can't begin to tell you how much fun it is teaching this incredibly intelligent and sensitive being meaningful information. I see this as a safety net in the event he ever takes a vacation without me and needs help getting home. I mean, if a bird flew up to me and said an email address, I would be curious enough to send a message.

 

[RavensGryf]

Hi welcome! Tsali sounds amazing! I'm so fascinated by the intelligence of Greys. I'm sure you'll have more great stories to come . I love the pic in the photo contest too.. I see he's a tailor by trade?

 

[Tsali]

Ummm, let's just say that his mom does a bit of sewing now and again

 

[LeaKP]

Welcome! We, too, are owned by a grey who is exposed to all kinds of situations and is amazing. Can't wait for pics!

 

[Allee]

So sorry I'm late to the party! Welcome Cindy and Tsali! I loved your intro! Amazingly clever bird and clever human, always a winning combination. That's brilliant, teaching your Tsali his phone number. Great idea to take him for field trips from a young age. Looking forward to hearing more from you two.

 

[CherylCali]

One of the most wise things I have ever heard, teaching contact info.

CherylCali

 

[smbrds]

Welcome to you and Tsali. That's quite a flock. It's nice to know that you and Tsali have a great relationship. It's also great how he's learning his phone number. They are extremely intelligent and often underestimated by the general (non-bird) public.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Oh, how I have TRIED to teach contact info. He won't learn it. He sings J-Lo's "Booty" song, but he won't learn contact info. NOR WILL HE LEARN TO RETURN a simple "I love you!"
32 years and counting...

 

[Tsali]

Oh, how I have TRIED to teach contact info. He won't learn it. He sings J-Lo's "Booty" song, but he won't learn contact info. NOR WILL HE LEARN TO RETURN a simple "I love you!"
32 years and counting...

Amazing! Tsali talks all the time and has a fairly large vocabulary, but does not sing. He does seem to enjoy listening to Jimmy Buffett.

I have an idea - maybe you have already tried it. Try singing the "Booty" song substituting your contact info for the words in the song. Really get into it and don't forget the YEAH and clapping at the end.

 

[BeatriceC]

Count me as another that's amazed you were able to teach him your contact info. Goofy used to have a large vocabulary, but he's all but stopped talking in the last ten years. He still says a few words randomly, and mostly incomprehensible unless you're listening closely (except for Hi, Goofy, Hiiiiiiiiii, at top volume and on repeat if he thinks he's being ignored, and he also says "come here" in context). But you wanna know what he does do? He mimics the certain noises from less than proper films that his original human must have watched endlessly. It's really rather embarrassing. Leo doesn't talk at all, but I got him as a 9 year old and while I've tried, I haven't even gotten as much as a glimmer of hope for a word.

 

[Tsali]

I don't know why Tsali is such a talker. He is my first and only bird and I learning on the job. I spent several years researching greys before committing to bringing one into our home.

I am retired and an farm injury severely limits my mobility so Tsali and I spend a lot of time one on one. I talk to him in a conversational manner, like he was an adult human, telling him the names of things, what I am doing etc. We don't have a TV per se, we watch movies on the computer, but I do play the radio some. So most of the sound stimulation comes from my voice and my husbands. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Maybe I just hit the jackpot with an exceptional talker.

Tsali is only 17 months old, so it will be interesting to see where his vocabulary goes as he matures.