Parrot Nation » Zoos

A Little Blog Here, a Little Blog There…

Patricia Sund — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:32:01 +0000

I vaguely remember why I began this blog. I was going to go to the Cincinnati Zoo to work as a “Guest Keeper” and I was writing about working at a zoo for my book in progress called you-know-what. (Yes, it’s called Parrot Nation.)

I was going to be gone for three weeks and I thought it would be a good idea to post photos and write about my time there. While I couldn’t accurately express the way I smelled, people did get the idea when I posted photos of stuff; like my work boots here:

Little by little, people began to catch on to “PN” and more people began to be aware of my ramblings about life with birds, life on the road, my total adoration of good food, and writing. They started reading about my recipe for “Chop:”

(Baignoire avec de la nourriture pour les perroquets)

They began reading my monthly rant “Memo to Parker and Pepper” in Bird Talk Magazine. In short, things began to pick up around here. I began this blog not quite two years ago and it has since taken on a life of its own.

I am by no means an expert on blogging. (Is there such a thing? I suppose there is, these days there are experts on everything…) I just try to write about what in God’s name is going on in the world around me in a fun and interesting manner. The best and most interesting blogs I’ve found have been the honest ones, the ones that actually give you a peek into someone else’s world. My world happens to contain a lot of parrot poop on the floor and carrot bits on the walls. But readers understand this because they have their own worlds full of carrot-bit laden walls. I think they visit because they can relate to my poopy floors and my occasional outbursts of “Parker! Get the flyin’ hell off of that chair!…Good bird!” But they are all very good birds when I make Chop:

The most common comment I’ve gotten on some of my posts have been in the vein of, “How did you know?” People who have birds can relate to my daily dilemmas and challenges. That’s easy to understand because we face the same ones every day. They have become my pep squad and my confidants. I feel better because I have come to realize I’m not the only one who has birds that climb on the furniture, wander around their home like they were taking a walk in the park, toss stuff onto the floor like they were throwing plates in a Greek Restaurant, (Opa!) and methodically chip at the woodwork.

Somehow, when you know you aren’t alone, it makes it better. Naturally, this knowledge doesn’t clean the poop off the floor, and you still have that woodwork that looks like a goat has been at it, but it just seems easier to take, don’t you think? I also sometimes feel as though I’m just sitting around the pool with you guys talking about stuff, even though you are all over the world, actually. This is a photo of my friends, Barbara and Nan. We were sitting down at the pool when it began raining. We stayed there. In the pouring rain. It was fun!

This is what it looked like in the street after this rainstorm:

I’ve been looking at what I’ve posted and some of the avenues I’ve been down. I’ve branched out from where I began in 2008, and learned from the experience. Along the way, I’ve gotten so many suggestions, comments and emails on the content and I so appreciate your input. I just want to thank you all for helping me find some direction. I’ll try and work on the content to make sure it’s something that we can all find interesting. Or fun. Or really inane but very entertaining.

Recipes for your birds seem to be a hot item, so I will try to include more of them. And pictures. Don’t we all love pictures! Here’s a photo for you. These are some parrot toys I was washing:

Isn’t it an exciting life I lead? Thanks for stopping by…

Cookie the Little Penguin at the Cincinnati Zoo

Patricia Sund — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:24:02 +0000

I was going over some of my files and realized I never posted my video of Cookie the Little Penguin in the break room at the Cincinnati Zoo. I put it up at YouTube, but never posted it here. So wIthout further ado, here’s Cookie. Trust me, you will smile!

Andean Condor

Patricia Sund — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:59:52 +0000

I happened to be walking by the Andean Condor enclosure and saw this. According to Steve, this male Condor is most likely engaging in “Thermoregulation.” He’s regulating his body temperature by spreading his wings out in the sun:

Just Browsing

Patricia Sund — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:41:42 +0000

In the wild, animals are constantly interacting with plants, shrubs, trees and foliage. It is not only nourishment, but for fun and enrichment. It is entertainment and stimulation and animals love interacting with it. At the Cincinnati Zoo, they have an unusual method of storing for the winter when no browse is available on the grounds: A browse roundup. Here is a video of people from all over the zoo: Bird House, Commissary, Nocturnal, Nutrition, Veldt, even Veterinarians came to the “Round Up” to help pack up browse for the winter:

Cincinnati Zoo’s Award Winning Insectarium

Patricia Sund — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:45:19 +0000

Karen, Cincinnati Zoo’s long-time Insectarium Keeper, shows me a glimpse of what it’s like to work in Cincinnati Zoo’s Insectarium and straightens up the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Exhibit:

Tall Blondes, the Elephant House and Val’s Spiel

Patricia Sund — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:11:49 +0000

I shot some footage of the Giraffes waiting to go into their yard, the Elephant House and finally I managed to get Val, the Elephant Keeper doing his”Meet the Keeper ” moment in the Elephant Yard:

IT/ AV Guru of the Cincinnati Zoo

Patricia Sund — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:48:20 +0000

I lost the internet connection at the Bird House so I had to bring my laptop over to Dutch, the Internet Tech Guru at the Zoo for a little look-see. My schedule is a little cramped as I am following Steve’s schedule. I’m up at 4:45 a.m. and we’re out the door by 5:30 and at the zoo by about 6:15. I warm up by posting the videos I’ve shot the day before and get them up onto the blog, but without an internet connection, “no can do.” So Dutch straightened my stuff out and while he was straightening things out, I shot him “doing his thing.”

Dutch is an important member of the team here at the Zoo. He is responsible for the “Central Nervous System” of the Cincinnati Zoo and hundreds of people rely on him.

Moving an Emu

Patricia Sund — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:47:24 +0000

Mel the Emu got a new enclosure to hang out in. The Bird House Staff in collaboration with Wildlife Canyon and “Wings of Wonder” Bird Show Staff helped with Mel’s move. Mel is one big bird!:

Lunch With Carole and Kim

Patricia Sund — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:19:01 +0000

Steve and I had some special guests for lunch. After lunch they had the opportunity to feed lunch to the penguins. It was a fun day:

Lunch with Carol, Kim & Cookie the Penguin

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The Reptile House

Patricia Sund — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:58:16 +0000