The Birds of Eden is the coolest collection of birds we have ever seen. It is the largest free flight avaity in the world. There are 3500 birds in the sanctuary from 220 different species. Some are native to the area and some are exotic. I don't know the names of all these birds so I will not try to list them all, instead I will make up goofy names for the ones that I don't know. I do know that the above bird is the Blue Crane which is the national bird of South Africa. Like lots of large birds, it had a problem with loss of habitat and was threatened. Good news, it has returned with the help of farmers and landowners leaving wetlands aside for the birds. This aviary accepts birds that the owners can't maintain, birds that have been confiscated from illegal trade and hand raised birds that could not survive in the wild. They have a system of acclimating these birds to the presence of other birds. Many of them have never mingled with other birds or have never been able to fly free. We strolled through the system of trails, walkways and hanging bridges seeing birds around every corner and flying overhead. There were a few mammals included in the exhibit. Fruit Bats and the Blue Duiker, which is the smallest of the deer species in Africa. These cuties were the size of small dog and they were stealthy moving through the undergrowth.
We drove through the pine plantations on our way to the Birds
If you get a chance...this is a must see
Right outside the entry door we see this Brown Fuzzy Buzz
Bruce the parrot had been imprinted on humans as it was the unofficial greeter
The Green Bean Necked Parrot
The golden pheasant
If I were to try to design an outlandish plumage, I would not have been this bold
Flying Fox
Fruit bat that was almost 3 feet long
Cool fungi
I have a picture of this bird, the Knysna Turaco, on my phone as a background. It is so outlandish that I had believed it to be a photoshop creation and not an actual bird!
Yellow Weaver Bird
Weaving away on its nest. The males make the nest and if the female likes it, all is good. If she doesn't like it she dissembles the entire thing and the male has to start over
The Blue Duiker is the smallest of the antelope species in South Africa. It is the second smallest in all of Africa
The White Toothpick Bird is busy making its namesake toothpicks
The Yellow Weaver is getting building materials
Bruce the Parrot has sent his parrot buddy to stalk us
Weaver working hard
I did not see the rusty support cables before we got on the hanging bridge
This bridge was very sturdy, no sway at all
Another fantastic Turaco
A very handsome bird
Scarlet Isis were flocking amazing
These brilliant birds were most abundant
The Tufted Black Beak Hooligan Bird
These birds are found at soccer matches and are known to rough up visiting birds
Red Ring of Power Bird
The Black Green Knob Nose bird
His name is shaggy
The Vulturine Guinea Fowl
The Inky Red Bill
The Greater Flamingo
The Blue Crane
The Gingham Red Stockings Bird
A Guniea Fowl peeking out
A black Swan
It is getting late and time to roost
Bedding down as we leave
A great sunset on our drive home
