Alex, my pet parrot, is now about four years old. As you may recall, he (she?-it takes a DNA test to tell) is a Quaker Parrot (although, not a practicing Quaker) also called a Monk Parrot (although he doesn’t seemed inclined to Gregorian chant or making brandy.)
The dog and the two cats go through a couple of bags of food each month. They need checkups and shots, anti-flea medicine and licenses. Alex, on the other hand, goes through 2 bags of parrot food per year. I will admit that I take off my good shirts and don an old denim one so he can climb all over me, with minimal damage. He likes my company, and I enjoy his after a long day when I don’t feel like talking.
My point?
Like many people, I view each of my pets as individuals.
On the other hand, it’s far too easy to look at people not as individuals, but in terms of their appearance, attributes, background or whatever.
Weird, huh?
sfnowak 
Alex is one heckuva bird. Love him!
How old is Alex in this picture
I adopted her from another family, and believe she was about six or seven. She’s probably close to ten but she just started laying eggs within the last year (which was when I decided Alex was short for Alexandra).