For Exotic Parrots, Florida is for the Birds

June 29, 2012

Parrots are still the stars of the show at Jungle Island, especially when it comes to interacting, quite loudly, with visitors. (Courtesy, Jungle Island)

The southeastern state of Florida is a land of sunshine, beaches, orange groves, alligators, and lots of retired people.

It’s also a paradise for birds: big birds, little birds, exotic birds, endangered birds and very pretty birds.

In Florida, one sees beautiful pink flamingos, those tall, long-necked water birds that often stand on one leg; snowy egrets roosting in trees in the swampy Everglades; and funny-looking brown pelicans with big beaks, that look like scoops, which is exactly what they are.

Unfortunately the most beautiful Florida birds must be kept in captivity.

They’re members of the parrot family - colorfully plumed birds that are native to the southern hemisphere but do quite well north of the equator in Florida’s semi-tropical climate.

When we visited, we found this fellow (or lady bird) to be stunning in appearance and anything but shy. (Carol M. Highsmith)

So many pet parrots and parakeets escaped and thrived in the wild that they are now flying around Florida in flocks.

But more than 300 varieties of these birds live contentedly - along with orangutans, a half-lion/half tiger, and a dangerous flightless bird called a cassowary - in a wildlife theme park called Jungle Island.