What's All the Chirping?

Written by: Thea Etchells

  

The zoo’s Australia area is located at the top of the main hill across from the Encounter Africa construction zone. In season you’ll find alligators, wallabies, and numerous reptiles and birds here.  Hidden in a building in the corner of this area is an exhibit full of excitement and chatter, or as a professional would say, excitement and chirping. 

Budgie Buddies is home to a colorful array of small birds, commonly known as parakeets. But, in their native home of Australia, they are known as budgerigars or “budgies” for short.  Wild budgies live in small flocks in the scrublands, open woodlands, and grasslands throughout the drier parts of inland Australia. They search these areas for hollow trees or logs to build nests. Nests located near water are definitely prime real estate.

A budgie’s diet consists of seeds from different plants, as well as fruits and vegetables. As opportunistic breeders, budgies respond to rainy weather when the grass seeds become most abundant.  Flock mates show signs of affection by preening and feeding one another. Budgies are naturally green and yellow, but breeders have created a rainbow of blues, whites, and yellows, along with some grays. These birds have become popular pets because of their playful nature, ability to mimic human speech, and their small size.

In Budgie Buddies here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, guests can get up close and personal to our large flock of budgies, along with their buddies the princess parrots, a rosella parrot, cockatiels, zebra finches (birds also native to Australia), and a variety of different finch species from other continents.  During your visit, you might see the birds taking a bath in the waterfall, chatting with a buddy, popping in and out of a nest box or having a bite of lunch.  Our flocks’ favorite activity however, is snacking on seed sticks held by zoo guests. 

The Zoo is getting Crafty!

Here at the zoo we are celebrating National Bird Feeding Month with bird friendly children’s activities. Follow the instructions listed below to build a backyard bird “tweeder” with a recycled soda bottle or steal some of your mom’s favorite ribbon to create a festive bird “tweet”.

Backyard Bird Feeder

Materials

      ·        Clean 1-liter soda bottle

      ·        Craft knife

      ·        2 wooden spoons

      ·        Small eye screw

      ·        Length of twine for hanging

Directions

1.      Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom.

2.      Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk 2 inches from the bottom.

3.      Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as shown.

4.      Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out the circles (a parent's job).

5.      Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.

6.      Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into the top of it for hanging.

7.      Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.

"Tweet" Treats

Materials

• 1/4-ounce package of unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups of your favorite wild birdseed
• Three 4-inch mini bundt or fluted pans
• Colorful ribbon

Directions

1.      To make a batch, bring 6 tablespoons of water to a boil. Empty one 1/4-ounce package of unflavored gelatin into 2 tablespoons of cold water in a large bowl.

2.      Let the gelatin sit for 1 minute, then add the boiling water and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until the gelatin has dissolved. 

3.      Next, stir 2 cups of your favorite wild birdseed into the gelatin, mixing thoroughly.

4.      Let the mixture set for a few minutes, then stir again. Repeat this process a few times, if necessary, allowing the seed to absorb the liquid.

5.      Spoon the seed mixture into three 4-inch mini bundt or fluted pans

6.      Place the pans in the refrigerator or a cool room and let them set for at least 3 hours.

7.      Remove the wreaths from the molds by inverting the pans and tapping along the bottoms.

8.      Allow the wreaths to air-dry overnight. 

9.      Finally, tie colorful ribbon around your wreaths and hang them outside in a protected spot, such as under an awning or eaves, where the rain won't melt them.

Send photos of your completed project to kwhite@cmzoo.org, for a chance to be highlighted on Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Facebook page.

*Check out http://familyfun.go.com for more kid crafts.