PhotonStopper

During our visit to the Cincinnati Zoo August 30, I learned that certain birds find me to be delicious. The zoo was very difficult for us to find due to apparently missing directional signs and an inaccurate map but once we got there we loved the place. Some of the birds loved me… possibly as food!

We visited the zoo's Lorikeet Landing: one of those free-flight places you can walk around inside and feed the birds seeds or "nectar" purchased from the official vendor. The birds I encountered did not seem to care that I had no purchased goodies. They liked me… a lot! Not long after entering the enclosure I was set upon by a smallish, beautifully green creature. You can see it tasting my hand below…

Taste Test

Next I was accosted by a rather larger and more menacing feathered beast. At first it also seemed content to sniff my hand, as if looking for treats. Finding no seeds hidden in my palm, however, the monster tried to take a finger. Again, see below…

The Attack

Undeterred, I remained inside the danger zone and soon three more birds joined "Big Red" in the feast. The trio perched on my head and shoulders sampling my hair, ears, and skin! Horrible. Simply horrible! (A photo of that incident may never be seen.)

So if you enter a lorikeet enclosure in order to be close to the birds, beware. Look around and, if you see a bird staring at you as in the photo below, you might just want to buy some nectar and save your skin!

Menacing Stare

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