Birds of Prey

I am not an animal person.  They don't get me and I don't get them.  And I don't have any experience with birds.  I mean, not unless you count last year, when a bird pooped on me at a swim meet.  (I mean, so gross!  The girls kept telling me how disgusting it was that I had bird poop on my shirt.  You know, like I did it on purpose.  That is right girls, I wanted to walk around the swim & dive meet all afternoon and into the night with bird poop on my shirt. Clearly, I haven't gotten over it since it was a year ago.)

So we head off to Jurong Bird Park.  I don't really know anything about birds, except I see an occasional cardinal or bluebird in our backyard.  (BTW, I can tell the difference between them, at least.)  We meet the other H family at the park and set out for the day.  As I look at the map of the park, I realize, wow! this is a big park and boy! there are a lot of birds.  It is the size of a zoo!  Who knew?  (well, really, probably lots of people know that.  I am just not one of them.)

Let's be honest, if you ask the girls about the flamingos, well they would say it stunk. 

And they would be correct! 

Not sure what was going on over there but it wasn't good. 

Maybe that's why the zoo at home puts them on a little island with water around it. 

No one can get too close. 

The girls feed the canary birds. 

Tie Dye loved it and had 3 birds at one time drinking out of her cup. 

 Although . . .

one of the birds didn't feel like sharing with the others so much.  Simmer down now, little canaries. 

Keylime had a little fury friend land on her shoulder, to Keylime's great surprise. 

She wanted the bird off but the bird just moved to her back.  I think the bird wanted to be her BFF. 

Some of our favorite birds were the Hornbills and Toucans.  Keylime and her friend K were calling (loudly) to the female Hornbill to come out so they could see her.  They had heard other Hornbills in another cage calling to one another, so apparently, now they have become experts on bird calling!  Of course, the Hornbill had enough sense to stay hiding in the tree.  Smart bird! 

Just as cute as the one in the Fruit Loop commercials, we loved the Toucans too! 

We decide to catch a show at the park.  We had heard the shows were good.  We got a seat in back.  When we first walk in, we see this (below) on the ground stage.  I think, hmmm, this should be interesting.  This seems to be one of the props? 

So we watch the show.  They start off with the Bald Eagle and even mention that this is a symbol for the U.S.  How nice!  There are owls, lots of them, flying around, and they even had a white owl and made a Harry Potter reference (The girls think that is fun, since we just saw the 2nd part of the7th Harry Potter movie last week.) 

Then it is time for the grand finale of the show.  They bring out a vulture!  Wait, what?  We have been looking at large but nice-looking birds.  Are you kidding me?  I mean I am not trying to be a bird snob but really, should the vultures be in the finale of the show?  Vultures, well, are creepy looking to start.  Then, they bring out about a half-dozen of them.  Really, one was more than enough.  They bring the team of vultures out to demonstrate what they do in the wild.  Now the fake cow laying on the stage makes a little more sense.  Yuk!

My friend who is with me, reminds me that the show is called "Birds of Prey."  Right she is, this show was not just the "beautiful tropical birds just flying around showing off" show!  I think I will try to catch that one next time.