Worth every penny and every minute

African Greys are not cheap, and they are not low-maintenance. But after six years with my bird I cannot imagine life without him. He talks, he problem-solves, he even seems to read my mood. On bad days he will say 'it is okay' softly and lean against my hand. I do wish I had known more about their emotional needs before getting him — they are genuinely fragile creatures emotionally, and that took me by surprise.