And, of course, The Bird House. This was the closest the zoo came to providing a natural habitat for its creatures. It was a glass construction, loaded with plants and a multilevel pathway twining through it to allow visitors to see birds in trees, and flying. While a great concept, the humidity and vegetation produced an odor that will stay with me until I die. Like a rotten swamp smell. Those poor birds! I remember loving going in but holding my breath, too. Amazing memories - the sounds, the colors, a little "babbling brook." All the birds seemed to live peacefully, too. Good concept. But then again, I was little.
Fast forward to yesterday when my friend and I went to the zoo. I'd been last year so had low expectations and was not disappointed. I am sure the staff cares immensely for their creatures and does the best they can, but it is definitely not the zoo of my youth anymore. It is like a South American rodent park with a few monkeys, flamingos, three big cats, a brown bear, a bald eagle, a couple meercats, and a pair of hyacinth macaws. The macaws are kept in a glass fronted room (the monkey house in my day.) We watched a mouse run around the floor of the enclosure and the two birds hang out, looking at recycled boxes put out for their foraging (which was a nice touch!) I wonder if they are loved like I love my babies. Lots of critters look like they could have been rescued from the illicit exotic pet trade. A highlight of the visit was seeing the Birds of Prey show that featured owls, hawks, vultures, an eagle, and more free-flight through the open theater area. Gorgeous.
It is better that they don't have the bigger animals now as they shouldn't be confined to small, unnatural spaces. But it needs something...too many fenced areas without animals in them, or with a small brown rodent like creature (most likely nocturnal) hiding its face. Lots of "multi-culti" props embracing the animals original territories, which is nice, as well as a rustic cabin that can be peeked into. Still, I miss the feeling of seeing more animals in the space. I miss the peacocks walking around, though today people might not be able to handle it and would interact poorly with them and blame the zoo.
Because it was more cost effective to get a membership, I now can go back and visit whenever I want over the next year, and see the Franklin Park Zoo, too. I am thinking about ways of doing a classroom project with the kids next year utilizing and benefiting this resource. Maybe the kids and I can do one little thing to make one tiny difference there. Even in its less than stellar state, it is a suburban gem that we all should appreciate and support. The struggle for its survival is clear -- it would be such a shame if it were to disappear. Mice in the macaw enclosure and all. Maybe they are friends. Cheers.