Third Day!

I started the day the same way. Olivia drove me this morning (perfectly, I might add) and when I arrived at Barn 8 I waited for Sherry to finish her Coco. We then headed over to the Forest Aviary were we prepared the food for that morning and replaced it with the food from last night. For such small animals, birds eat a ton. 

We then headed over to the Weaver Exhibit where we set up a cage, which we would later put a newly hatched baby Weaver.We put the baby Weaver in the cage, which is inside the exhibit, in order for it to get used to it's new environment. It allows it to see where the food bowls are, where the birds hang out, and it's in order for the rest of the birds to get used to the new baby Weaver. We didn't want the birds to get angry at the new addition. 

Today Sherry taught me all about the different types of feathers and what each type is used for. She used feathers from a Guineafowl, which has beautiful feathers (especially close up). The Guineafowl feathers have the lightest touch of color around the edges and sometimes even have purple around the spots. They have many different types of feathers, from feathers on their underside (down feathers), to the feathers on their head (crown) and the feathers on their wings. The feathers on the wings are sturdier than the rest because they need to sustain flight. These feathers are not split directly in half. The feathers on the wing are shorter on the side facing the head of the bird, creating an easier wind path. Birds that are silent fliers, like owls, don't have as fine feathers, but have a softer look to them.The tail feathers are split down the middle. 

Owl Feather

Wing Feathers

Guineafowl Feathers

When the birds were ready to get new food, Sherry let me prepare the diets all by myself while she hosed off the exhibit. The diets in the afternoon are a bit different than the morning ones. I find them easier. There is the softbill mix that is used for the majority of the birds, excluding the mainly meet eaters. It consists of spinach, hardboiled eggs, cabbage, rice, mixed vegetables, pellets (which kinda look like dog food), crickets, mealworms, and vitamins. I chopped and mixed them all together and placed it in the different bowls. The mealworms are tricky buggers, they always try to escape the bowls, it's if they are sensing their doom. Sherry tells me that sometimes she finds them in her pockets when she arrives home. 

Softbill Mix

The other mix is the fruit mix (which looks a bit more appetizing to me). The first part contains chopped apple, cantaloupe, banana, and sweet potato. At this point I need to take out a portion for the Silver Cheeked Hornbill, whose name is Kambui, because the types of Hornbill birds, including other types of birds, cannot have citrus because it messes with their digestion. After I set aside the portion for Kambui, I put in chopped grapes, oranges, and a surprise fruit. I then put this mix into the bowls. 

Fruit Mix

As I was mixing all of these wonderful ingredients, a lovebird flew into the cages in the place where I work. It would whistle to me as I was working, it was quite flattering. Who needs an iPod when you have birds singing to you?

The Cages

My Work Place

I then distributed these dishes throughout the Forest Aviary and Weaver Exhibit all by myself. I think I deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.  But besides feeding, my most important job is dishes. There seems to be a never ending pile of dishes. I wash and I wash and I wash, and the dishes never stop. They're like rabbits, always multiplying. 

At the end of my shift, I met a Guineafowl named Blue that was located in Barn 1. Blue was the cutest thing ever and always wanted attention. I even got to cuddle with her, without her even pooping on me!