This poem was probably written by a nun: The Owl and the Nightingale offers no resolution, thus forcing the reader to interpret the highly ambiguous text for themselves. The debate itself covers a very diverse range, including religion, marriage, toilet manners, and song. This diverse range has led to scholars interpreting the text in very different ways. These interpretations have varied from a medieval answer to the portrayal of the owl in the Book of Isaiah, to the poem being used as a teaching method for teaching students the art of debate as part of the trivium. Various historical satires have also been proposed as possible interpretations; including a parody of the relationship between King Henry II and Thomas Becket.
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~wpwt/trans/owl/owltrans.htm
Jane Goodall says:
"I know a parrot in New York called N'kisi (a Congo African Gray parrot) who knows 971 words. He isn't counted as having a new word until he's used it at least five times in a proper context. In other words, if he just repeats a word, that doesn't count. Before I met N'kisi, his owner, Aimee, was showing him pictures of me and chimps. When I walked into the room, he asked, 'Got a chimp?' Aimee broke a necklace, and he said, 'What a pity. You broke your new, nice necklace.' He uses grammar and initiates conversation (all skills once reserved for people). This bird even has a Web site [sheldrake.org/nkisi]. I don't think he's an exceptionally brilliant parrot; I do think we're only starting to understand how smart they are."
I want to learn the latin names of North American songbirds.
Resource: http://www.hbw.com/ibc/
Videos of songbirds from everywhere.
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