Parrot power: The woman who revealed birds are not bird-brained

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Dr Irene Pepperberg is regarded today as the mother of avian cognition. But that accolade comes despite decades of being overlooked and ridiculed, both for being a female scientist in the 1970s and for daring to think that birds, with their walnut-sized brains, might have the ability to understand language. Alex, an African Grey parrot, would help Irene to change people's minds about what a 'bird-brain' can really do. And he would change her life too, before their 30 years of scientific study together came to an untimely end. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Anna Lacey Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 (Photo: Irene Pepperberg and Alex. Credit: David Carter)