Jurong Bird Park

This is my last post from my short trip to Singapore though there is a lot more ground to cover. Some will have to wait for another trip. A memorable visit was to the Jurong Bird Park and even though we are not happy to see birds in captivity this is an aviary which is immensely rich and varied and we really enjoyed seeing the Asian birds but also the macaws from South America, the parrots and the hornbills, not to mention the shade of the flamingoes which ranged from this intense pink orange to the softer pink ones who pranced across the stage in the show. There are clearly marked paths and even a little tram to transport you around if you dont want to walk. For more information and to see what is on at the park go to https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/jurong-bird-park/

Loved the iridescent colours of this rather ordinary pigeon - how can it be ordinary you rightly say with colours like that and a home in the Nicobar islands?

And it gets even more elaborate, and we are still talking pigeons here, look at the Western Crowned Pigeon. Just the most delicate dentele on its head. The biggest pigeon in the world and a vulnerable species found in New Guinea.

This one here is the Victoria Crowned Pigeon, looking a little regal like Queen Victoria perhaps, with her sombre blues, a feathered crown with white ends - like a tiara no less. 

And these Lears Macaws named after Edward Lear went to the brink of extinction, but have been brought back by a rigorous programme for their protection by the Brazilian Government.

 The appropriately named Superb Starling.

 An inquisitive grey parrot looking at us as we strolled past it.

There was a show in the afternoon called High Flyers. The birds swooped down on us from every direction,  the hornbills played a loving couple (they mate for life), the parrots played competative games, one amazing bird called Amigo mimicked speech and sung songs in three different languages. You have to hear him. 

The grand finale of the show involved an influx of all types of feathered friends which made for a wonderfully joyous slightly mad scene. There was a pelican who was especially naughty and wanting to be centre stage. Here he is with that very cheeky smile.