The baby and I drove to Long Island this weekend to meet Tim after his conference at Cold Spring Harbor. Squiggles loves animals (at least in books), so we visited the local petting zoo.
There were lots of animals to visit, and we got a bucket full of food that proved extremely effective for drawing the animals near.
I have a metal jewelry stand on my dresser that has a couple birds on it. Every time we walk by, we have to stop and pet the metal birds or Squiggles has a fit. She loves seeing birds when we go for walks as well, so we were happy to see that there was an aviary at the petting zoo. They gave us a popsicle stick with birdseed on it to attract the birds.
I think Squiggles was astonished that this was really happening.
In the picture below, she is trying very hard to break the prominently posted “Please don’t touch or squeeze birds” rule.
Tim got the birds to perch right on his hands. When I was in charge of holding the seed stick, I remembered something that I knew as a child but had since forgotten: I like admiring birds, and I like the concept of birds, but I do NOT want them touching my person.
We fed many animals, washed our hands a finity times, and called the day a success.
10 comments:
I used to have one of those birds, three actually. Not once could I get them to land on me. I should have tried the treat stick.
I love the popsicle stick with birdseed on it! Looks like the day was a huge success! And, I'm with you - love birds when they're not actually touching me!
Oh, I *love* petting zoos (and the like). I've never seen a popsicle stick with birdseed on it, though. That's brilliant!
Glad you had such a great time (and that Squiggles gets to see books come to life!).
From one who grew up on a petting zoo, this looks like a great experience! I never tired of the animals. We even had huge silos and when all of the silage was gone, the pigeons moved in. They were exciting to conquer on a catch-and-release basis! Fun fun fun little Squiggles!
Cute Squiggles...I always love seeing pictures of her. I think she's taking after her "aunt Joanne" with her love of birds. ;)
I love squiggles' face when the bird came to eat the birdseed filled popsicle stick. What a fun day!
I'm looking at this post with Squiggles on my lap, and if she was even half as delighted at the actual animals as she is at the pictures, I can tell it was a success. Also, she keeps saying "dah-ee" and pointing at Tim.
Since when do they have zebras at petting zoos?!
I love your child. Squiggles is the greatest. I want to meet her someday.
Karen, perhaps it is a black and white horse.
Post a Comment