Animal Diaries Archive

Just another day in Bird Show

7 December 2007

Well there is never a dull moment for us here in the Bird Show department. This week we have had the very exciting adventures with a cherry picker. Picasso one of our Green Wing Macaws who originally came to the zoo with his wings clipped, has been in extensive training and now has the ability to fly.

This week on his daily training routine in the Crocoseum he decided to check out how well his wings really worked. Picasso flew out of the Crocoseum and ended up in a gum tree beside the Kids Zoo. Part of our training with the birds is to not only teach them how to fly but giving them the confidence to let go of perches or trees to come down to their keeper. As this was the first time Picasso found himself in a very high tree he was quite happy to sit there and wait for us to come and get him. Picasso still doesn't as yet have the confidence and ability to fly down. This is not something that the Bird Show team generally practices, because it teaches the bird that we will always come and get them out of the tree rather then them coming down on their own. Picasso was in the tree for about three hours and desperate times call for desperate measures.

One phone call later to our construction team and we had the trusty cherry picker on hand to get Picasso down. Our very fearless supervisor took control, strapped on the fluro safety gear and up she climbed. As you can see from the photos it all ended very well with Picasso happily stepping onto Jodi's arm and taking the ride home. We will keep you up to date on the new exciting adventures of Picasso the Green Wing Macaw.

Till then Birds Rule!!!