A Red-Fronted Turq Smile

An oversized budgie this is not! The brilliant colours of the Red-Fronted Turquoisine Opaline (yes, that’s a mouthful) may scream a flashy personality, but it looks so serene, and given its soft spoken and gentle

Return of the Green Turaco

This gallery contains 4 photos. This elusive and exotically coloured and crested African native decided to pop over to the Eclectus Parrots exhibit to check us out–and gave us rather unique viewing angles! 

Ruby and Kiwi

This gallery contains 2 photos. For an early Valentine’s Day treat, here are the latest closeups of Ruby and Kiwi, the resident Eclectus Parrots from the Bloedel Conservatory! Ladies first: her cobalt blue mascara never

African Superb Starling

This gallery contains 2 photos. I’m “in the studio” with an African Superb Starling. A head turner with its lovely iridescent rainbow plumage, a small flock of these pigeon-sized birds can be found, frequently on the wing,

A Cheeky Eastern Rosella

This gallery contains 2 photos. Perhaps to make up for his appearances high, high up in the trees during our previous two visits, Clyde the (gorgeous and very colourful) Eastern Rosella appeared at the main feeding stations

Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs (II)

This gallery contains 3 photos. A sign of the time: the analog clock with the inscription ‘We Serve’ donated by the Vancouver Mandarin Lions Club has stood outside the Bloedel Conservatory since 1995. All photographs were taken on April 27. More examples of signs can be found here.

One Patient Timbrado Canary

A chubby looking, fluffed up Spanish Timbrado Canary sits on a perch overlooking the seed bowls. Photographed at the Bloedel Conservatory in late April, these birds have great vocal chops (like its fellow canary cousins).

Butterfly Daffodils

There aren’t any butterflies in these daffodils, which are nevertheless striking to behold with their contrasting orange trumpets and white petals. Also know as split-cup daffodils. Photographed at the Bloedel Conservatory in late April.

Red Ginger

Don’t you find Red Ginger (aka ostrich plume) to be a bit redundant? As someone who dyed her hair ginger for many years, I do! The underside of this gorgeous plant is soft as silk to the touch (don’t go around doing this with Cinnamon Bunny Ears, which, despite its cuddly name, is a form of cactus).