American Flamingo
Budgerigar Parakeet
Demoiselle Crane
East Indian Grey Teal
Indian Blue Peacock
Nene
Wreathed Hornbill
Scarlet Ibis
Toco Toucan
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (How about those lashes?)
June 22, 2013
Sylvan Heights
Since sometime last winter, two friends and I have been trying to match our schedules to visit Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. The 18 acre park houses a collection of birds from around the world, more or less grouped by continent. You can walk through most of the displays, enabling you to get up close and personal with the birds. Sylvan Heights is not just a zoo, it is also a breeding center for many species of waterfowl, including several that are critically endangered. The price of admission was only $9, and it was worth every penny.
American Flamingo
Demoiselle Crane
East Indian Grey Teal
Indian Blue Peacock
Nene
Scarlet Ibis
American Flamingo
Demoiselle Crane
East Indian Grey Teal
Indian Blue Peacock
Nene
Scarlet Ibis
I never get tired of looking at birds and animals and would have loved visiting the waterfowl park. Interesting that you focused in on their eyes. What must they be thinking?
ReplyDeleteSome of their eyes were very soulful, and something I normally associate with mammals, not birds.
DeleteA neat and impressive place - great shots.
ReplyDeleteIt was impressive. I am glad I went.
DeleteThat Demoiselle Crane looks like an orchestra conductor ! Lovely photos Les.
ReplyDeleteThey were actually much lovelier than I could photography. Their foliage were different shades of gray, not the most colorful, but they were very elegant.
DeleteThose are fabulous pictures. Not just the colors and forms of the birds, but also how the photographs seem to give them personality.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jason!
DeleteNice images. the Demoiselle remind me of a few friends of mine from the 60's. he he
ReplyDeleteI think all of us of a certain age have friends like that.
Deleteawesome pictures !!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gwennie!
DeleteLes, these are fantastic: I feel human qualities in the bird's expressions. A couple more pictures and you have a bird calendar.
ReplyDeleteA calendar is a good idea!
DeleteThe range in size, form, color, etc. of birds is amazing! Thanks for this beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteOne of the nice things about the park was being able to see so many different species in such a relatively small place.
DeleteBeautiful pictures, Les. Many ladies would kill for the Hornbill's gorgeous lashes. I'd like to visit there sometime myself. I miss all the beautiful birds and ducks we had on the Eastern Shore.
ReplyDeleteI took so many pictures of that hornbill and its lashes, they were amazing. At one point it poked its bill through the fence and began pecking at me, likely begging for food.
DeleteBeautiful pictures as usual Les. Ironic that one of our garden club members went to Sylvan this weekend also and posted some pictures on her FB page. Did you happen to run into Tricia? She said she loved feeding the birds from the seed on the popsicle stick. This looks like a beautiful place to visit.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ran into Tricia, but I too enjoyed feeding the birds on a popsicle stick.
DeleteThe Scarlet Ibis are spectacular as are the peacocks and the flamingo.
ReplyDeleteI had never seen a scarlet ibis before, and I was thrilled.
DeleteYou photos capture amazing detail, especially the eye lashes on the hornbill. Nature has some incredible wonders.
ReplyDeleteYes, nature does!
DeleteI thought all those gardens you visited were quite wonderful until I got to this post. These beautiful creatures put every garden in the shade.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking us along to this bird wonderland.
ReplyDelete