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Birthday Treat - Jurong Bird Park 12 Jan 2010

Since JY loves Birds, my family decided to bring her to Jurong Bird Park on her birthday. My brother & me had to take 1 day's leave and it's such a pity WJ did not manage to join us due to work.
It was a bright and sunny morning, perfect for an outing. Everyone was geared and slathering sunblock lotion since it's so close to my sis's wedding, no one wants to look like a beige zebra.

JY had her morning milk in the car & off we pushed the stroller towards Bird Park. Then JY fell promptly asleep before she caught sight of any birds, we made feeble attempts to put her to sleep in the pram to her resistance. Eventually, she napped for only 10mins on my shoulder cos i was still attempting to put her in her pram when she struggled awake and caught sight of this huge white bird staring at her.


We passed by a flock of pink flamingo cooling themselves in the pond. We all took turns to carry JY throughout the duration of the Park tour.


We made it to the 10am Birds of Prey Show at Fuji Hawk Walk and it is spectacular to see birds making an entrance from left, right, behind, front springing surprises on the audience constantly,bringing visual stimulation throughout the 45mins show. We see owls, vultures and some very big birds flying in.

followed by 11am Birds & Buddies Show at the Pools Amphitheatre which captured our attention from the start when a flock of birds flew from over our heads towards the stage. Then a rush of flamingo entered and crowded the stage...and it's the start of the show! There's the portion when birthday boys/girls including JY are identified and a parakeet sang a loud cackling birthday song to them...

JY finally quietened down after the Bird Show and we have 1hr to catch up on lunch and rest from carrying her. The Bongo Burgers are over-priced and just about average quality, a tourist trap.


Next, we headed towards the Lory Loft - I'm amazed by the aviary , surrounded by high net and suspended wood bridges, we had tree top view of the canopy and trees. We heard so many chirps of the lories and if we squint hard enough, we see little dashing of red/green/blue feathers here and there. JY & my mum looking out for the lories, trying to catch a glimpse at them.

Suddenly, one landed on my dad's shoulder to our amazement. I'm ashamed at myself cos i was quite afraid that it'll hopped to my shoulder, i kept a distance. On the other hand, JY was unfazed and curious enough to get up-close and personal.

Next, we stopped at the Birds of The Prey section, we stared in wonder as this bird is HUGE! This is a Himalayan Griffon Vulture whose wingspan seems like 2m! Apparently, the 2 birds were found soaring over Orchard Road in Dec 2004, apparently immature birds can stray far off from their breeding territory in Central Asia. They were weak and exhausted but recovered in Bird Park.
Photo-time w JY


Past the pelican lake, this aquarium is full of huge fishes, another favourite of JY.

Last stop, African Waterfall Aviary where we found ourselves in the midst of lush and cool foliage with a net so high it's 12 storey above us for the free flights birds to fly around.

Small colourful starlings fleet past us constantly and perched on tree trunks. They are even so used to humans, they hopped close & peered at us curiously instead. So with litle JY learning to walk, she enthusiastically took huge steps towards the little colourful starlings and stared at them at eye level.




It was close to 2pm when we left and all were baked under the sun, tired out by the morning activity and it took all the 5 adults' strengths to match the little tike's energy level.

posted by Ling @ 9:54 pm