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Birds of Eden

Home to a reclusive bird... and an $800 black pearl earring.

By JessPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
12
A Mandarin Duck Makes a Surprise Appearance

Legend has it that an $800.00 black pearl earring is hiding somewhere in Birds of Eden, the world’s largest free-flight aviary in South Africa.

Entrance to Birds of Eden

Located in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, Eden is a haven for over 3,000 exotic birds and home to the missing piece of jewelry. Entrance to the sanctuary cost us only $14, but the possibility of hidden treasure was a priceless perk that made our trip to the popular sanctuary well worth it.

It had only been my 2nd week in Africa when my travel companion, a Singaporean journalism intern named Adeline, and I were assigned to write about Birds of Eden. Previous stories we wrote centered around spending a night at Bush camp, where we slept amongst roaring, free-roaming lions; shark cage diving with the requiem sharks of Africa; and our experience snowboarding down the largest dune in South Africa (I did this even with a concussion, but that's a story for another day).

The radiant birds—mostly former zoo animals, ex-pets, or illegally traded birds—flew freely along the outskirts of the maze-like wooden platforms that maneuvered throughout the different bird stations.

Wooden Platforms

The stations, placed throughout the expansive reserve (5.7 acres), included food—a mixture of chopped fruits, vegetables, and seeds—and water bowls for the hungry two-legged creatures to eat and drink from.

Forest Birds Pecking Their Grub

As we walked amongst the jungle-like vegetation, the colorful birds would swoop in between the lush tree branches and glide with the wind. “We were specifically built over the canyon so we got the rocky slopes for the pheasants; we got the different levels of the canopies in the trees; and the grass area for the flamingos,” Grace Marais, one of the managers of Birds of Eden, told me.

A Colorful Crane

Over 3,000 birds live in the sanctuary, with over 200 different types of birds. Some of these birds include Caribbean Flamingos, Cranes, Water Fowl, Parrots, Bushveld Birds, and Tropical Birds. No walls or screens limited our view of the birds (although there was a no-touching rule), unlike at zoos where we'd have to peer at the animals through a thick wall of glass.

Pink Flamingos

As we walked along the trail and above the colorful, blossoming plants and towering trees, a suspended, mesh net hovered above us and all the other visitors. Although this transparent shield prevented the exotic birds from escaping the aviary, it was mostly put in place to help the beautiful birds from falling prey to the wildness that is the Africa countryside.

We walked further down the wooden walkway and came to a man-made pond. There, a peculiar bird, the mandarin duck, swam freely.

A Mandarin Duck Makes an Appearance

The bird was unlike any other I'd ever seen, its plumage brandished a warm orange glow like burning wood, with broad strokes of blue, green, white, brown, and red. Its cousin, the American Wood duck, now seemed unremarkable in comparison to this vibrant, glowing waterfowl.

With a few fine lustrous strokes, a gifted painter had imagined the Mandarin duck. The bird, with its greenish-black forehead, chestnut patches, and puffed-out purple chest, is one of nature's most stunning creatures.

I dropped to the ground and managed to snap a few simple shots of the shy bird as it zig-zagged left to right, seemingly conveying with its sharp turns, catch me if you can. The peculiar bird sailed a long passage: Mandarin ducks are usually found in parts of East Asia, Russia, and California.

The Shy Mandarin Duck

It finally came to a rest and floated along the edge of the pond before it paddled towards a different area, in search of new onlookers to dazzle and amaze.

We never did find the $800.00 black pearl earring, but we left with something better: a rare sighting that was unforgettable.

Nature
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About the Creator

Jess

I write stories, poems, and informational pieces for all.

Curly hair blogger @: www.bringingupcurls.com

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