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Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo

Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo

Current price: $22.95
Publication Date: April 15th, 2021
Publisher:
Sherman Asher Publishing
ISBN:
9781890932510
Pages:
256

Description

Last night as I was preparing to go out, Cosmo and I had this extended conversation:

Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo originated in a Sunday column I wrote for The Athens Banner-Herald from 2011 to 2013 titled "Cosmo Talks." I had already published a book about Cosmo's learning to speak, Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot, and I wanted to share anecdotes about Cosmo's hilarious antics with my local community. However, "Cosmo Talks" quickly evolved from accounts of Cosmo's activities to reflections on parrots' anatomy; birds' evolution from dinosaurs; the concept of nature; the evidence of consciousness in birds and mammals; the interdependence of all Earth's living organisms; and the similarities in mental life between humans and non-human animals.

When I wrote "Cosmo Talks" I had two dogs, Kaylee and Mary, with whom Cosmo played. Now I have Cosmo alone, and she plays with me. She just walked into my study.

I are here, she announced.

Betty Jean: "No. Betty Jean gonna go in a car. Cosmo gonna stay home with doggies."

Cosmo: "Doggies gonna go for a walk?"

Betty Jean: "No, doggies gonna stay home with Cosmo."

Cosmo: (muttering to herself) "Betty Jean gonna go to work."

Cosmo: (out loud) "Good-bye."

Betty Jean: "Good-bye, Cosmo. Good-bye, doggies. I love you.