That's So Pittsburgh: Birds of a Feather

As a mixer before a bird-themed singing concert at which he was the accompanist, Dear Husband and I were invited to the National Aviary, a local treasure located in the North Side of Pittsburgh. Not only do they house a variety of winged creatures, but they offer facts about the environment and education about environmental protection. 

These ridiculous balls of fluff are Eurasian Eagle Owl chicks, aka baby bubo bubos.

Of course we visited the African penguins, where I picked up a Seafood Watch wallet card about choices that are better or worse for sustainable fishing, like farmed scallops or shrimp rather than overfished pollock or imported mahi mahi.

My favorites are the pink flamingos. You can even pay extra to feed them!

This Gouldian Finch was the most colorful bird we saw. His family lives in Australia.

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be!

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gumdrops he can see.
Stop, Kookaburra, stop, Kookaburra
Leave some there for me.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Counting all the monkeys he can see.
Stop, Kookaburra, stop, Kookaburra,
That's not a monkey, that's me!

If you're thinking to yourself, "Those aren't birds," you're right!
"[Malayan Flying Foxes] are giant fruit bats from Asia, part of the mega-bat family,
that can reach up to 16 inches long and have six-foot wingspans."

These were the funniest-looking and most regal birds we saw at the aviary, respectively. On the left is a Rhinoceros Hornbill. I can't remember the name of the other one, which was very vain about its long ruffled tail. We didn't get a photo of the prettiest, which was the Victoria Crowned Pigeon, or the most entertaining, which was a big parrot squawking (loudly) to the crowd and doing tricks.

If you visit us in Pittsburgh, let us know if you want to meet Liberty the Bald Eagle!