The KL Bird Park - Birds Galore!
On day three in Kuala Lumpur, we arose early so that I could appear on Channel 7, the local television station. After that, we rushed off to the amazing KL Bird Park, where all of us wanted to go. Established in 1991, this beautiful park is home to more than 2,000 birds of approximately 200 species, both local and foreign. More than 20 acres in size, KL Bird Park is the world's largest outdoor aviary with more than 4 acres covered with high netting. This allows the birds to move about freely and also breed in a seemingly natural habitat. Visitors are also free to share this incredible space while visiting the colorful and melodic birds. It was such an exciting experience and Sophie, Memrie, and I had so much fun!
1 The Entrance to KL Bird Park
2 Located in the serene and scenic Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, it's only a 10 minute drive from the city center.
3 A white egret was one of many friendly birds just walking around amidst the tourists.
4 Birds came and alighted on our arms and shoulders, like this hornbill and cockatoo - they were so friendly. The red parrot fancied Memrie.
5 The cockatoo and hornbill really took to Sophie.
6 An egret strutting around
7 Such beautiful owls!
8 Another view
9 Most owls are nocturnal and were sleeping.
10 We seemed to make a slight impression.
11 Some visitors in the park posing for their family portrait
12 Our turn! Not once were we pecked or bitten!
13 A closer look at these incredible birds!
14 A photo with my good friends
15 Because of her hat brim, Memrie can't see that an eagle is now on her shoulder.
16 This was so strange, but so much fun!
17 A very friendly cockatoo and a blue and yellow macaw
18 A proud and observant hawk
19 This eagle was preening.
20 A close-up of a lovely macaw
21 And a beautiful cockatoo
22 Another view
23 He loved the camera!
24 Sophie conversing with green parrots
25 These birds are so tame.
26 I became a perch to many!
27 So many!
28 Here I am posing with children from the International School in Kuala Lumpur. They had a field trip to the Bird Park.
29 The children were so excited about their fieldtrip!
30 And now with more grownups
31 A lovely ostrich or emu?
32 And another
33 Another friendly cockatoo. Some of them had quite a vocabulary.
34 The unique beak of the hornbill is used for combat.
35 A blue breasted guinea foul roaming around the Bird Park.
36 A gorgeous and inquisitive African grey parrot
37 An eagle and a falcon comfortably perched side by side
38 There are a few cassowaries at the Bird Park. Beware - they have sharp claws on powerful legs and are known to kick.
39 A closer look of a cassowary
40 After touring the Bird Park, we were refreshed with my favorite drink - young coconut.
Lovely photos...so obvious Memrie, Sophie and you, Martha were happy to see the birds and so were they!I live near the bird park and the orchid garden is just beside it where I get my supply of orchid plants. Did you pop by the orchid garden? Next time you are in Malaysia you must visit Langkawi a group of 99 islands in the North East of Malaysia.It is the place I go to relax..:) waiting patiently for day 3 in the evening....
Posted by: Kartini Illias | June 3rd, 2010 at 2:15 am
Hi Martha! I like your shirt. It looks like wearing green well is another thing we have in common. You are my idol (but I do not want to be famous). Imagining working for you is helping me through a stressful time. Thank you for being so wonderful and inspiring.
Posted by: Michele | June 3rd, 2010 at 4:37 am
I love birds!!! They are all so beautiful and these birds are no exception!!
Posted by: Darrick Beekman | June 3rd, 2010 at 6:35 am
The Cassowarys have a hard piece on their head which they use to crack open all sorts of things, considered quite a dangerous bird.
Love the Sulphur crested cockatoo I have dozens of these and many other parrots living near my property, but had to stop feeding them when we got two new cocker spaniels, Grace is just way too fast and when there dead ones we stopped purchasing wild bird feed.
I was amazed how the sky line has changed in KL, shame about all the old or heritage properties making way, the same has happened in Singapore too.
Posted by: Aussie gal | June 3rd, 2010 at 8:55 am
Thank you for taking so many beautiful pictures when you travel. We get to see things and places and animals and birds, etc. that we might not have ever gotten the chance to see.
It looks as though you are all having a wonderful time and that is a good thing.
Posted by: Karen Tracy | June 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hi Martha,
Beautiful birds and I’m sure that was fun to have them land on you. I hope Coral Ann doesn’t read your blog! Lol The two in picture #16 remind me of her. The egret made me smile although it looks a little different than the mostly white ones we have around here. One of them we call our pet because he/she likes to hang around the pool and stops by at least once a week. I wish I could go to a bird park and run into Martha Stewart, Memrie Lewis and Sophie Herbert and pose for pictures! Thanks again Martha! Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 3rd, 2010 at 9:39 am
What a fantastic blog, Martha! I really enjoyed this one. I'm sure Marc Morrone will be SO jealous that you got to experience this amazing place without him. I love the photo of you standing like a tree covered in birds. You look like you're having such a great time on this trip!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | June 3rd, 2010 at 9:46 am
...and how white were Memrie's slacks and top after the great visit to KL Bird Park?
A perfect blog with excellent pictures-----as usual.
Thanks
Posted by: Margie | June 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
I love to see people happy and you guys truly look like you were enjoying this part of the journey. So many birds and how beautiful they are, I especially liked the white cockatoo. What an extraordinary experience!
You are for sure a bona fide globe trotter and to help with digestion a little heated prune juice will do the trick!
Looking forward to more blogs.
Posted by: KLBrown | June 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 am
Martha:
I loved this blog. Birds are my all time favorite wildlife (I love most wildlife) and these pictures were THE BEST EVER (next to your farm which I adore). Seeing a pictures of the cassowary was super. I don't think I have ever seen him before. Thanks. I loved the birds and you standing like a tree covered in beautiful gorgeous birds. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.
Linda
Phila, PA
Posted by: Linda | June 3rd, 2010 at 11:10 am
What a treat for the school children to meet you. I bet that was an unexpected and pleasant surprise! I must say, I LOVE your green blouse. Pin tucks and Swiss dot get me every time!
Posted by: Amanda | June 3rd, 2010 at 11:46 am
These birds look so healthy and beautiful. I love pic 26 & 27...but there are so many pic of birds I have never seen. I recently wrote a blog on word press about a place on Vancouver Island on Canada's west coast that rescues parrots. Vancouver Island is a paradise. Thanks for showing us another what seems to be a paradise!
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | June 3rd, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Loved picture #14. The cockatoo seems to be posing with you. So cute.
Posted by: Mel | June 3rd, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Could the bird labeled as an ostrich actually be an emu? It looks like an emu to me. I agree with Mel, the bird in #14 does indeed look as if it's posing with you. Very cute.
Posted by: Andrea | June 3rd, 2010 at 3:44 pm
What a wonderful time you are having! Busy too! You'll need a little R&R after..... Maybe a trip to Maine!
Posted by: Barbara | June 3rd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Hi Martha, These photos of the beautiful birds at the KL Bird Park are absolutely priceless!! Everyone one of them looked so calm and friendly except for the cassowary. It's easy to tell how much all three of you enjoyed your tour of that beautiful park. Thanks for taking us along again! I love every photo , but my favorite one is #14! You look absolutely stunning and very happy!! Hope you have a great time during your farm garden tour tomorrow. Can't wait to see that blog!! Hug all your babies for me and I heard you had 2 black sheep. Sounds like more fun animals!! Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 pm
What a wonderful park! The birds just love people and that is a switch. Beautiful pictures Martha, looks like you did have a great time!
Posted by: Libbygirl | June 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Martha, I can imagine your farm in Bedford with a flock of Guinea hens running around. That will be a sight! Enjoy your Asian trip.
Posted by: Nikki | June 4th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Wow Martha how fabulous to see such beautiful birds up close and personal. Wonderful pictures!
Posted by: Jenny | June 4th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
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On the wings of love !!!
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My goodness gracious and heavens to Betsey is all I can say to this motley feather brushing of color!!!
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Wow to nature!
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Posted by: andreaandweims on twitter | June 4th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
This park looks so wonderful. Thank you for sharing this experience with us. I find myself uplifted by these photos in contrast with all the horrible photos from the Gulf of Mexico. All of the blog on your trip from Malaysia is excellent. A good friend married in Australia last weekend...he and his bride are headed there this weekend. The Lipton Tea sign, food and architecture of the country was so interesting.
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | June 4th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I have not been to the Bird Park though I live about 20 minutes away. Shame on me. Thanks for reminding me Martha. Will visit this week-end.
Posted by: Idzan, Kuala lumpur | June 5th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Do you have any parrots or other birds at your house? These are so lovely. Anyone interested in parrots may want to take a look at info on my Word Press blog about Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Thanks Martha for another fascinating trip around the world via your blog.
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | June 5th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Oh! I feel like going to the Bird Park again. I've been there only once a few years ago! : )
Posted by: foongpc | June 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Wow, I'd never heard of the KL Bird Park. This is something I really should experience!
Posted by: Modern Paper Goods | June 13th, 2010 at 4:22 am
Looks like you had quite the time, we were considering going and now I fear we cannot resist.
Posted by: Mendel Potok | September 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm