Feeding the Parakeets

School started this week in Miami-Dade county, so I thought it would be a good week to plan some field trips.  Everywhere we went, it was us and a bunch of foreign tourists!  It was great! 

We took the whole week off school (we've been doing school all summer - minus VBS and Caleb's hospital stay and my parents' and Brian's visit - but really we've accomplished a lot!)  Honestly it was me who needed a break - because even the days we didn't "do school" this summer, I did a lot and I was ready for a break.

We ended up going to the zoo twice because a planned beach trip didn't work out - it is kind of a shame that we are so near the ocean (less than 2 miles) and it is so hard to get there (and hour drive + paying to park).

The first day we went to the zoo, we went really late - about 3pm and there was a family leaving as we went in who gave us 3 tickets to feed the parrots.  I had never let the kids feed the parrots because it cost $3 each - which I thought was exorbitant.  The sign says "includes bird food and admission" but it turns out that they will let you in for free, the $3 is just for the seed - I guess it pays to ask!  For $3 they give you a very small cup of birdseed.  However, I really think the "worth it" factor depends on who is doing the parrot feeding!

When you go in the birdcage - the parakeets fly onto your hand (or back or head).  Most of them just nibble at the food, but a few of them bit me.

Natalie did not want to touch the birds and was very annoyed at them trying to land on her (or near her), so I ended up using her cup.

Annalise could not get them to eat from her hand on our first trip - but she got that figured out!

Guess who wants a parakeet now!

Rosella Parrot

I left kind of wanting one of these - they politely took one seed and ate it slowly.  Plus I thought they were so beautiful!

The kids were overwhelmed by how much fun they had -  Caleb said it was one of the most fun things he'd ever done - and I'd say an experience like that would be worth $3, which is why, I paid for them to go back today (with a stern warning not to expect it every time we go!).  They made their seed last about half an hour (another "worth it" factor), whereas I saw littler kids who lost all their seed in 2 minutes (a "not worth it" factor to me!). 

If you count from last Saturday we also went to Deering Estate, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Pinecrest Gardens, and Miami Children's Museum.  We have been busy!