For The Birds!

I took so many pictures at Balboa park that the only way to get this all down, all this COOL stuff – is to break it into smaller chunks! 

Those poor folks on slow connections and dial up --- I’ve gotten complains that my long posts take too long to load. I hear you!  I know my posts can be picture heavy, but I love the photos so much….

On our exit through the park we stopped near an area where the San Diego Bird Rescue folks had set up bird perches….all kinds of birds!

The volunteers were so pleasant and so informative – and I was captivated by these sweet creatures, and horrified at how they ended up in the bird rescue in the first place.

One sweet cockatoo, named Sugar –was given to the rescue by a family that could no longer keep her or care for her –and it turns out that Sugar was in pretty bad shape.  She had completely plucked her self bald from too much stress. The story went that her previous owners fought with each other bitterly and loudly --- and the tension in the home distressed Sugar so much that she pulled out all her own feathers because she was so unhappy.

Here’s Sugar, who took a great liking to Sandi, and would even say her name when Sandi said “Hey, Sugar!” --- and she’d reply…”Sugar” in a sweet and soft timid little cockatoo voice!  What a sweet girl!  She is currently up for adoption. Did you know these birds can live 50 to 85 years? At this rate, they are going to out-live ME!

Sugar is a lot happier now, and her new feathers are growing in.  And they ITCH – so she was constantly preening…I hope she leaves it alone long enough that those feathers get a chance to grow in. There is nothing sadder than a bald Cockatoo!

The other birds enjoyed their perches in the sunshine and just watched on. I loved the coloring of this one!

The conures were quite friendly and look at their coloring too!  They love to preen people’s hair…and will walk right up your arm, onto your shoulder, and start right in on giving you a new “do!”

They gave kisses too!

They even got into MY hair!  This little guy is growing new feathers too.  He was so cute I would have loved to take him home ---but don’t worry.  I didn’t.  My bags are already at weight limits!

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. A walk in the park on a beautiful sunny day --- and time spent playing with birds.  Simple things in life!  And a good friend to do it all with!  Memories ---

Do you see the blue and green on this one…beautiful!!  And yes, that’s MY finger!

I think the bird rescue is doing a wonderful job of caring for these magnificent birds and finding them homes where they will be loved and cared for!