We walked in and, there they all were, waiting for us. The cages were mostly all open, so as soon as we sat down they were on our heads, on our arms, walking on our sketchbooks, chewing on our hats and trying to steal our glasses. Mostly, just vying for as much attention as we could give them!
This time we brought apples and bananas for their treats, which seemed to please them. It is amazing how strong they are. They can bite right through heavy sticks with a chomp. These guys had a great time chewing up a plastic scrub brush in just minutes. But they seem to try to be very gentle with their wicked looking beaks, and (so far) none of them has bitten me.
In order to have models who stayed in one place Susan and staff kept the two Hyacinth Macaws in their cage, which they were none to happy about. They wanted to be out like their buddies.
Hats are a pretty good idea in here, as someone is almost always perched on your head. Earplugs wouldn't hurt, either, as we found out when an eagle flew overhead. The screeching and screaming reached an incredible level 'til it flew away.
When Sue bent over one of the Macaws invited himself along for a ride on her bum, giving her a tail like a Vegas Showgirl.
Gleam took a particular shine to my paintbrush and the top of my pen, chewing the one to shreds and flying off with the other.
Owner Susan's new Aviary Keeper, Sterling, recently transplanted here from Chicago, just to be with these birds. He is happy here with them, and I am delighted that they seem to be happy with him.
Susan and the staff have welcomed us to come back again, whenever we like, to talk to the birds and be entertained by them.
Oh, and to sketch and paint, too. If we can. I have so much fun with them I barely get any art done at all! This is the only sketch I got done in the three hours I was there, but I had the BEST TIME!
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