Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo

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.