NPR’s Fresh Air is running a “Best of” interview series. I remember tearing up when I heard the original broadcast. This is must listening. Upon the bird’s death, The New York Times obituary said, “Brainy Bird Dies. Emotive to the end.”
From Fresh Air:
Although his brain was no bigger than a walnut, Alex the African gray parrot could do more than speak and understand — he could also count, identify colors and, according to his owner Irene Pepperberg, develop an emotional relationship. When Alex died in September 2007, his last words to Pepperberg were “You be good. I love you.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112405883&ps=cprs