Ok, I'm a Bird Geek
Trip Start
Jan 20, 2012
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20
22
Trip End
Feb 04, 2012
What I did
Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Today I drive about 45 minutes outside of Knysna and past Plettenberg Bay to visit Birds of Eden. It's billed as the largest bird aviary in the world and I would have to agree with that title. It covers over two acres and spans a gorge of indigenous forest. There are raised wooden walkways that go right thru the forest so you feel like you are really up in the trees with the birds. There are currently over 3500 birds that live at this sanctuary.
Within about 10 minutes of my arrival it starts raining. I manage to get in a few photos before running for cover. It's not good to get a camera wet. I have some breakfast at the restaurant and then find a covered pavilion and stay under there for a couple of hours. It is right on a pond and there are lots of ducks, red billed queleas and a nice pair of Blue Cranes to watch. The female blue crane is sitting on a nest with 4 eggs in it. Every once in awhile she will get up and poke around the eggs and move them a bit. I don't imagine it's too comfortable for her.
The rain continues and I return to the restaurant for lunch hoping to wait it out, but no luck, it keeps raining. The waiter tells me, of course they need the rain. And, I am lucky I was not here last week when it was stifling hot.
In spite of the rain, I did manage to get some nice bird photos. On the way back to the B&B I pass the Knysna Elephant Park and since it's still raining I decide not to stop. I have seen lots of elephants already and don't wish to walk around in the mud and rain. I hope you enjoy some of the photos I got at Birds of Eden.
