"Life with Birdie, the African Grey Parrot" is a collection of memories Helen has of the little bird and his/her antics over the years they lived together.. The stories of humor, drama and sadness show the love between humans and animals.. Initially named "Bird; " this little hand-fed exotic bird was thought to be a male. When she laid an egg, her name was changed to "Birdie." Birdie learned to repeat words she heard, good or bad, and learned to speak in both male and female voices. She also learned to whistle and could whistle every note of the popular song, "Bridge on the River Kwai." This is a love story between Helen, her late husband, Glen, and Birdie.