Betty Jean Craige

Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo Betty Jean Craige

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 re?ections 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."