Feathers and Beaks at Taronga Zoo

This kookaburra is wondering. . .

"Who's that creature with the gorgeous beak capable of holding up a mini man?"

Here's another kookaburra. For me, the kookaburras felt like exciting bonuses. They were not in an exhibit, but just decided to hang out in the trees at the zoo. At one point, the three of us heard the strangest birdcall we'd ever heard - a raucous laughing, calling sound. We all stopped and listened. I said, "Is that a chimpanzee or a bird?" A dad pushing a pram past us said, "That's a kookaburra." His tone implied, "Of course. What else would it be?"

I've wondered about kookaburras since fourth grade (or year four), when my class learned the song, "Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree. . . "









Ibis wander in and out of the food court at the zoo and scavenge. As Elsie pointed out in a comment, many people here think of them as pests. Isn't that beak impressive? Although it is a bit gunky with whatever he's been eating. In parks we constantly see ibis poking their beaks into the dirt.

This is a black swan.
She immediately glided over and checked us out as soon as we entered the waterbird viewing area at the zoo.

Apparently, we were quite boring because. . .                                                                                                 

  she promptly sailed away. Don't you love those feathers? Rather like an elegant evening gown.

 I have to say the waterbird viewing area was an unexpected delight. It was constructed so that we almost felt as if we were another bird in the water. Many types of birds can share the same pond because the birds eat different foods at various depths of the water, so they don't compete for food.

Rick and I were captivated by the Australian pelicans.

Australian pelicans seem to spend a significant amount of time grooming. 

This pelican is creating its own shower with its wings.

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Just think what you would be able to do if you could move your neck like this!

To get a sense of how they move (and how formidable that beak appears close up - I am so glad I am not a fish!), check out this clip:

And here's another rare bird found not in the wild or at Taronga zoo, but at a dinner party:

(That's a Venetian mask, by the way).