Publisher's note: This is a multi part series consisting mostly of high resolution images, and the identification of these exotic creatures within their captions. All entries within this series can be found here.
Of all of God's creatures, none challenge His finest creation - humankind - for the status of magnificent more than our avian friends.
Like most folks, I am a busy guy; however, when my wife makes those concrete plans that are so permanent that they most resemble the ankle weights, complements of the mob, for a deep sea diver, you heed her call first and foremost. It becomes an inescapable duty.
That inescapable duty was to drive she and our granddaughter, Mira, to the seldom visited hamlet of Scotland Neck for a school arranged field trip to the Sylvan Bird Park just north of this sleepy southern town, little changed by North Carolina's inevitable progress. My continued duty was to provide safe passage home, but only after escorting my loved ones along the colorful path of this exotic outreach to the winged world of our most majestic animals - birds of the living planet Earth.
When we first entered the park at the visitor center, we gathered ourselves around the feeding station /pond, where the pink flamingos fatten themselves on all that is fitt'n' to eat ... And, I'm carrying the camera with the telephoto lens.
The Pink Flamingos welcome the park's visitors: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage Click image to enlarge.
Our perfect path to our avian partners was our clockwise turn to what is promoted as "The Landing Zone", an aviary, which is home to myna birds and flamingos - the perfect combination of the bold in feather and voice. However, along the way, we take a stop to see the Demoiselle Crane - the look alike to former Minnesota governor /professional wrestler /actor Jesse Ventura.
"Jesse Ventura ... Me(?)": Above. And exit stage left; no longer a star: Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click image to enlarge.
In the aviary, we, as guests bearing gifts of seeds stuck to sticks, are treated to an intellectual interaction with these winged wonders.
"You're in my house now": Above. "You get that ... Right? Now ... get me food.": Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click image to enlarge.
And, there were the Pink Flamingos in here (in the aviary) with us as well.
The demure beauty of the pink lady: Above and below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click image to enlarge.
And the parakeet: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage Click image to enlarge.