Birds Of Brazil

In Foz do Iguassu, we stayed at a guesthouse called Pousada Evelina. The house had pretty bedrooms, a nice swimming pool and friendly staff who were proficient in English (a welcomed relief when one's grasp of the Portuguese language hasn't progressed between ola and chao.) While we had received a fairly warm welcome to the place, what cheesed us off was the proliferation of "friendly" little notices pasted all over the walls highlighting some not-so-friendly figures:

Use of WiFi: 2.50 Reals per connection
Use of shower after check-out: 5.00 Reals per shower
Use of kitchen & microwave: 10.00 Reals one-time charge
Use of phone for local calls: 1.00 Real per call
Change of towel: 2.00 Reals per towel
If guest is caught removing food from the breakfast room: FINE 10.00 Reals
If guest is caught using sunscreen lotion in pool: FINE 20.00 Reals

Rather off-putting isn't it? We only gradually discovered all these extra charges after we had checked in. We didn't even realise that there was a charge for the use of the kitchen until we returned from the supermarket with bags of raw meat. Too late. No choice. Pay lor.

And they call themselves a "guesthouse". While we appreciate and respect the need for house-rules, is it really necessary to impose fines on your paying guests? We wondered whether this is how visitors to Singapore feel when they see all the warnings and fine notices pasted all over our public spaces, buses and MRT trains.

Maybe the situation back home is less grating on the nerves because the warnings don't pretend to be friendly and end off with "Thank you for your cooperation" + irritating Smiley Face. Grrrrrrrrr.

After paying an extra 16 Reals for WiFi, use of the kitchen and one phone call to a travel agent to book our bus tickets to Florianopolis, it was nice to find out that we could actually save some money on the entrance fee to the Bird Park through the guesthouse. We saved just a couple of Reals each, but hearing the word "discount" instead of "extra charge" made it feel like alot more.

The Bird Park is located next to the entrance to the Brazilian side of the Iguassu Falls, allowing visitors to enjoy 2 major attractions in 1 day. We chose to visit the birds before the falls, which turned out to be the wise thing to do because all tourist groups rush to see the falls in the morning, then descend in droves upon the bird park in the afternoon.

With the exception of another couple, we had the bird park all to ourselves! Commendable effort went into designing the layout and use of space within the small park. After being guided through the initial exhibit of colourful (and very VERY noisy) parrots, visitors can choose different trails leading through various simulated environments, such as the African grasslands, or the Brazilian rainforest and pantanel (wetlands).

Rainbow-hued parrots! I love it when they say "ola, ola" instead of the usual "hello"

While most of the birds on display originate from Brazil, a few foreign workers have been flown in and they live peacefully alongside the locals.

Demoiselle Crane from Central Asia. Aka "evil-old-man-in-Chinese-period-dramas bird" cos of the shock of straight white hair hanging from its bald head.

Black Crown Crane, also from Asia. This one hops, leaps and whoops as part of the mating dance. Very interesting to watch. And imitate.

Some strange pre-historic-looking bird with a bone on his head. We called this the Dinosaur Bird.

Within the bird park, there are large cages which visitors can enter to see the birds up close, instead of peering at them from afar through a fence.

I don't know what bird this is, but it let us get really close without it pecking our eyes out. Nice birdie.

Our favourite walk-through exhibit was the rainforest enclosure replete with large toucans, shocking-red Ibis, pink spoonbills and some strange turkey-like birds with brilliant iridescent combs walking, hopping and flying all around us. While it was a far cry from our bird-watching tour in Mindo where we had to work hard to spot birds in their natural habitat, we enjoyed watching the birds in close proximity without having to resort to using binoculars.

Upskirt shot of a cheeky Red Ibis

Our favourite birds were the friendly toucans who posed and preened for our cameras. We were surprised that instead of avoiding us, they landed right in front of us and even hopped alongside as we walked through the exhibit.

Hold that pose...

They actually tilted their heads from side to side before the camera, as if trying to find the best angle to show off!

This one was so tame that it hopped closer to touch my hand and nudged me for a chest-tickle

NOT an amused bird

Practically begging to be photographed!

Hmmmm... now where was my picture again....

Yups, that's me!

We spent an inordinate amount of time with the toucans watching them feed on nuts, sip water from the pond and even tussle with one another while hovering in the air in a frenzied battle-of-the-beaks. Ever wondered why toucans don't ever fall beak-over-toes or get stiff necks from holding up their oversized appendages? It's because although big, a toucan's beak is actually very light and spongy. When their beaks clash during a fight, the loud clacking sound that results is not unlike that of kids play-battling with plastic toy swords! Still, getting too friendly with birds wielding big sharp beaks is not a good idea.

I think the toucans really enjoyed our company. A couple of them were reluctant to let us leave...

Figuring out how to get pass the danger zone without losing an eye. Or two.

Heh heh, happy to have left the enclosure with both eyes intact. Pity that I had to trade in the husband for permission to walk free though.

Hooray for a simple inexpensive excursion that brought us hours of fun and pleasure!

Don't think I don't know that you're laughing at me!