Exotic animals including birds were kept by wealthy Egyptians and Mesopotamians as recently as 4000 years ago. Alexander the Great brought parrots to Europe from India in 327 BCE. While humans learned very early how to get parrots and other birds to talk, communicating with them took much, much longer. And most humans don’t understand them anyway. Of course, humans have a track record of not understanding how nature works.
Michael Cox (no relation to this writer) began communicating with birds before he learned to drive. Eschewing a lucrative and well established occupation in computer security, he began to rehabilitate and protect all animals, especially birds—and particularly parrots. An encounter with a macaw named Rodney cemented the desire to focus on bird rehabilitation and the need to protect abused avian pets.
A couple who sold birds called Michael about a troubled parrot that needed his unique talent. Michael shooed the couple from the room, slowly approached Rodney, who was busy destroying a 2×2 board in a fit of rage. He reached into a pocket for an ever present bag of fruits and nuts and began talking quietly to the creature…