Isabella parrots carpentry classmates

Isabella, originally from San Diego, is busy completing her first semester at Laney. She has a background in science, and is currently attending carpentry classes. But Isabella is not a typical student: she's a three-year-old African gray parrot.

Isabella's owner identified himself as Kurt, and said that he takes his pet bird everywhere he goes, including to his classes. She doesn't have a cage; "That's not the way I raised her," said Kurt.

Isabella was raised by humans from the time she was a baby, and therefore can't fly, although she may learn. The bird has a vocabulary of 15 to 20 words, and can also perform tricks. Parrots can live to be 60 years old, so Isabella has plenty of time to earn her diploma.