Bird Kingdom

 I’ve been to Niagara Falls since I was kid, and then many times with my own kids – there are always different tourists attractions to see that are interesting to keep the crowds coming.

The White Water Walk was established as a safe yet exhilarating way to enjoy the wild rapids which have been clocked as the most ferocious in the world with a class 6 (according to the White Water Rapids Classification Guide).  Class 1 being gentle waves; 2- you might get splashed.  Class 3 – You’ll get wet Class 4 – you’ll get soaked; Class 5 – high adrenaline and Class 6 – non-navigable!  That in itself is scary enough.  For more on that trip – check out the White Water link here: https://mishylainescorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/search/label/White%20Water%20Walk%20in%20Niagara%20Falls

 This summer, we decided to go to Niagara on the GO train, which was inexpensive ($10/return trip!) and painless.  In fact we spent the trip talking, listening to music, reading, and watching the city go from Toronto to Niagara in about 2 hours at a clip of about 150/km per hour.

We agreed to check out the ‘Bird Kingdom” when we were there.  It’s located about a 20 minute walk from the GO Train terminal at 5651 River Road.  From the outside, it promised to be the World’s Largest Indoor Free Flying  Aviary and was a 4x Winner of Niagara’s “Attraction of the Year”!  How could we possibly miss on this?  Though I have to admit after paying $17 to enter through the darkened hallway I wasn’t really expecting much…boy was I wrong!

 

There are 4 levels in the building – the Main Aviary encompasses all 4 levels towards the back.  It opens up to a magical oasis much like a scene in Avatar.  A tropical paradise with a 40 foot waterfall filled with exotic birds of all different species and bright colours.  Rare ones like the Silvery-cheeked hornbill (which is you see it, you would almost feel sorry for it as it looks like half the beak is broken off – but in fact it isn’t.

Everyday in the Lorikeet Landing - there are daily feeding of sugar water to the Rainbow Lorikeets (which they love).  You will be the belle of the ball while they huddle around you and drink the nectar from your hands which is in a cup the attendants will give you.  My husband was able to attract half a dozen all over him.  I got the remaining 2 birds that peed on my arm and bit my hand (I tried to pet it , but apparently that’s not what you’re supposed to do).

In other attractions you’ll see hanging Egyptian fruit bats, talking cockatoos, parrots, Myna birds…all within metres of you.  There’s reptiles, and poisonous frogs and very large turtles!
We spent hours in there – something else that surprised me as I expected to be in and out in an hour.  Take some time and have some tea in the Javanese Tea House in the ‘Main Aviary’
It’s worth a visit, in fact since the lineups can be long in the summer time during peak season, the attendant at the Lorikeet Landing said that if you come in the Fall/Winter months you can spend more time with the birds as the traffic goes down dramatically.

One final thought as you debate the price of entry at the gate, all of these birds have been brought here by over-zealous previous owners that could not care for them, or brought in illegally or sick/injured through abuse or neglect.  So your money goes to help to support in the health and well-being in all these creatures in this well-maintained sanctuary.

We are going back again!

Happy travels!