Tracy Aviary

Recently, the boys and I had a great time with Grandma Reeder, my cousin Nancy, and her kids at a little jewel of Salt Lake, Tracy Aviary.

Almost the first thing we saw upon entering was the Mallard Day Spa. Seriously, there were about a dozen and a half ducks splashing and preening all at the same time. I've never seen the like before.

Smarty liked the big 'ole pelican.


Here's a really pretty shrub or tree that Nancy and I liked. Mom B, do you know what it is?


We chatted with a beautiful peacock that really took a liking to Sweety.


We went to a bird show where we watched this umbrella bird climb on a vine,


we met the world's smallest toucan,


and I made a friend.


We laughed at the argumentative storks.


We visited with the peacock some more.


I loved the tiny little birds.


Here's a cuckoo bird.


Sweety got brave enough to attempt
a conversation with his admirer.


Here's a king vulture showing off his striking head and wings. Apparently he holds his wings out like this, because he eats raw meat. The U.V. rays from the sun kill any bacteria left over from meals.


Here's a familiar face.. or breast.


Here's most of Nancy's kids, who are evidently kung-fu masters.
I didn't know that before this outing.


a pair of Golden Eagles


a bald eagle. They really are majestic.


Here's my cute mother doing her best to teach us something important.


Sweety's friend met us one last time before we left.


Then we had lunch right there in Liberty park. Mom R took the kids over to the island so they could dance and practice kung-fu some more. What else are islands for, right?

At one point Smarty slipped on some curbing and fell in the pond, completely soaking himself! Thankfully my mom was right there to unstick him from the mud and save him.

When I picked him up to comfort him, his slimy, pond-scummy face just slid across my cheek. (So GROSS!) But luckily I had the presence of mind to not react, less I send his little texture resistant head into overdrive. Smarty was incredibly brave, but he was kinda' done after that!

All in all, it was a great outing.