Ballarat Bird World
So, daughter and I finally got to visit Ballarat Bird World where, of course, there were lots of gorgeous birds!
This beautiful boy came over to check us out the moment we entered the aviary. He's a King parrot.
But before going into the big flight aviary where he was, we had to check out the small ones.
This little chap is a Bourke's parrot. I've not seen them blue like this; they're usually just pink.
Beautiful female Red Tailed Black Cockatoo. I love these birds - they look like they've been sprinkled with stars!
And here's a vid of daughter giving one of them a scritch. ♥
We found out as we were leaving that these ones were in fact hand-reared and, if the right staff member had been there while we were, we would have been able to go in with the birds! Spewing we missed that!
This sulphur crested beauty on the other hand... we didn't know (though I suspect he was). The double layer of wire/fencing (yes, she had to put her hand through not one, but TWO fences to reach this bird!) was no deterrent for daughter though. She could barely get her fingers through the second layer of wire, but the cocky enjoyed her efforts. Scritch! ;~)
Pair of Gang-Gangs. We have had wild ones of these in our yard, and they are incredibly CUTE. The one with the red head is the male, and his top-knot bobs when he moves. XD There was one in another cage that came right up to us and was saying "Hello" in the cutest, surprisingly deep voice!
Here's what daughter REALLY was hoping to see - a male eclectus. We've seen a couple of the beautiful red and blue females in our travels, but hadn't yet seen a male outside of youtube. We saw 3 males here, so daughter was completely squeeeful. This is her dream bird.
Entering the big free-flight aviary, we were met by our friend the King parrot. He actually stepped up onto daughter's arm! Of course, I couldn't get the camera to work in time to catch that. :~|
Cockatiels!! This is the closest I've come to seeing them in the wild.
And Mr King parrot again, who surpervised us every step of the way. Look at that CUTE face!!! XD
This vid was in an area of the big aviary where all the wee finches hung out. I just loved the sound of all the peeping! I would have loved to just sit there for half an hour and just listen to them. :~)
And here's a pic of the road home at twilight. You can just make out Melbourne on the horizon to the right. :~)
This beautiful boy came over to check us out the moment we entered the aviary. He's a King parrot.
But before going into the big flight aviary where he was, we had to check out the small ones.
This little chap is a Bourke's parrot. I've not seen them blue like this; they're usually just pink.
Beautiful female Red Tailed Black Cockatoo. I love these birds - they look like they've been sprinkled with stars!
And here's a vid of daughter giving one of them a scritch. ♥
Click to viewWe found out as we were leaving that these ones were in fact hand-reared and, if the right staff member had been there while we were, we would have been able to go in with the birds! Spewing we missed that!
This sulphur crested beauty on the other hand... we didn't know (though I suspect he was). The double layer of wire/fencing (yes, she had to put her hand through not one, but TWO fences to reach this bird!) was no deterrent for daughter though. She could barely get her fingers through the second layer of wire, but the cocky enjoyed her efforts. Scritch! ;~)
Pair of Gang-Gangs. We have had wild ones of these in our yard, and they are incredibly CUTE. The one with the red head is the male, and his top-knot bobs when he moves. XD There was one in another cage that came right up to us and was saying "Hello" in the cutest, surprisingly deep voice!
Here's what daughter REALLY was hoping to see - a male eclectus. We've seen a couple of the beautiful red and blue females in our travels, but hadn't yet seen a male outside of youtube. We saw 3 males here, so daughter was completely squeeeful. This is her dream bird.
Entering the big free-flight aviary, we were met by our friend the King parrot. He actually stepped up onto daughter's arm! Of course, I couldn't get the camera to work in time to catch that. :~|
Cockatiels!! This is the closest I've come to seeing them in the wild.
And Mr King parrot again, who surpervised us every step of the way. Look at that CUTE face!!! XD
This vid was in an area of the big aviary where all the wee finches hung out. I just loved the sound of all the peeping! I would have loved to just sit there for half an hour and just listen to them. :~)
And here's a pic of the road home at twilight. You can just make out Melbourne on the horizon to the right. :~)