Birds on a wire? Nope. On a railing.

I was surprised that a black crowned crane stood on the railing of the Columbus Zoo's Congo aviary viewing deck. I was more surprised that several birds spent some time there last Thursday. (In retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised, given the poop on the railing.)


Here's another black crowned crane, but a juvenile. Its wings have adult coloring, and the golden crown is looking good, but the neck and body still have some brown, and the red cheek is still developing.

black crowned crane (juvenile)

The hamerkop and its partner were busy building a nest, but this one took a break.

hamerkop

The hamerkop's toes are partially webbed.

A hamerkop's feet

The blue-bellied roller is one of my favorite birds.

blue-bellied roller (side view)

blue-bellied roller (front view)

A speckled pigeon visited.

speckled pigeon

A sacred ibis preened.

A sacred ibis preens.

A sacred ibis's tail feathers