The Parrot Who Owns Me

The Parrot Who Owns Me chronicles the relationship between ornithologist Joanna Burger and Tiko, a Red-lored Amazon parrot who enters her life unexpectedly. Through her dual perspectives as both scientist and companion, Burger documents their complex interactions and the gradual development of their bond. This memoir integrates research about wild and captive parrots with personal observations about Tiko's behaviors, intelligence, and emotional capacity. Burger's background as a professor of biology at Rutgers University provides a foundation for exploring parrot psychology, social structures, and the ways these birds adapt to living with humans. The narrative follows the evolution of their relationship across multiple years, including daily routines, challenges, and moments of connection between woman and bird. Burger describes how Tiko's presence influences her home life, work, and relationships with others. Through this intimate portrait of cross-species companionship, the book raises questions about the nature of consciousness, the capacity for emotion in non-human animals, and the responsibilities humans bear toward the creatures who share their lives.

Readers describe this as an intimate look at the relationship between Burger and her Amazon parrot Tiko, offering scientific insights while remaining accessible to casual readers. Readers appreciated: - Balance of scientific knowledge and personal narrative - Details about parrot behavior and intelligence - Honest portrayal of both joys and challenges of parrot ownership Common criticisms: - Some sections felt repetitive - Too much focus on the author's personal life - Scientific portions too basic for experienced bird owners Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (150+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "Perfect blend of memoir and ornithology" - Goodreads reviewer "Expected more in-depth science" - Amazon reviewer "Helped me understand my own parrot better" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in daily routines" - Amazon reviewer The book resonates most with parrot owners and those interested in human-animal bonds.

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🦜 Joanna Burger is not only an author but also a distinguished professor of biology at Rutgers University, specializing in animal behavior and ecology. 🦜 The book's central character, Tiko, is a Red-lored Amazon parrot who lived to be over 40 years old and had multiple human families before joining the author. 🦜 Amazon parrots like Tiko can learn hundreds of words and phrases, and have the cognitive abilities of a 3-5 year old human child. 🦜 The author's scientific background allows her to blend emotional storytelling with precise behavioral observations, making the book both a memoir and a scientific study. 🦜 Red-lored Amazon parrots are native to Central and South America, where they live in pairs or small groups and can survive up to 50 years in the wild.