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We took a walk through the lush tropical gardens wherea Caribbean flan that said it was the National Bird of the Bahamas Mark wanted to know then if we had a national bird

“We do,” I told hile”

“Why is he bald?” he asked

Trying not to laugh I said, “He’s really not, they just call him that”

“Why?”

“Because he has a white head that contrasts with the rest of his body so it makes him look bald”

He nodded, for now, he was satisfied We went in further and ran across an African Gray bird Mark seeray since a lot of the anieneral descriptions He was a lot like s to add up

“What’s that one?”

“It’s a cockatoo,” I told him

“Cool nainning their bird feeding session “Can atch them eat?” he asked

“Of course,” I told hiet to do what you want”

We went over to the seating area with Cecile still following along She tried to sit next to me and I picked Mark up and plopped him down in between us Over his head, she looked at me and mouthed, “I don’t bite”

“That’s a htly

The bird keepers passed out small pieces of apples to volunteers in the audience Mark’s hand was one of the first up when they asked ould like to feed them While the birds landed on the hands of the children and they fed them the apples, the bird keeper told them about parrots and where they were from They said that these particular parrots were from Eastern Australia and Tasmania They said that they were different from most parents in that they required pollen, nectar and fruits to survive Mark was fascinated and I loved watching his face as he learned

“What’s that one?” Mark asked me ere back on the trail

“Can you read the sign?” I asked him