West Country Peregrinations

Chlidonias said:
same as for why the peregrine falcon is so-named. And perhaps also Peregrin Took, although I wouldn't like to swear on that one!!
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I've enjoyed this very bizarre and random thread on zoos, music and everything else in between. To see a Lord of the Rings comment intertwined with a discussion about zoos was amusing, and what made me smile even wider was the word "peregrinations". I just finished re-reading Gerald Durrell's "The Whispering Land" and he uses that exact word in the final chapter of the book. Splendid!
 
Gigit said:
She's definitely zoo staff. She was aided by a volunteer. The nearest they came to a trick was a macaw (Fred?) taking money from us and putting it in a collecting box. I feel the same about dolphin shows. I reluctantly watched one at Madrid zoo last year and, while it was spectacular, I'm never sure that they enjoy it as much as we do.

Anyway, I could well be returning for a repeat performance as my photos are all rubbish! I'll try and pay more attention to the details :)
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That's very interesting and would explain why the person who is usually based at Flamingo Land who was going to go to Paignton to do the show has not gone. The Bird Show volunteers of course are mostly quite experienced and know what they are doing with the birds, so they maybe could be guiding the staff members. The Green-winged Macaw that collects the money is indeed "Big Red" Fred (I think I used to use a photo of him on my arm as my avatar, although he refused to fly to me the only time I got to be the volunteer). I take it there was no ring race then? And maybe no climbing down a rope to reach a bucket containing a peanut - usually performed by Bubba the Yellow-crowned Amazon(or hauling up the rope as Chucky did)? Ooh, no talking parrot (Bubba in recent years) either? Oh no - and what about raising and lowering the Feathered Feats flag? :eek:

I'd already looked at the gallery in the hope of seeing Bird Show photos and was going to ask!!
 
Pertinax said:
What did I say....?;)

I reckon they have 'gone' in favour of the Tur which are seen as being a bit more exotic perhaps. Are Tur any more endangered than Barbary Sheep?:confused:
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Typical zoo thinking these days :(. I realise I live in the past, but oh for the desire to show a decent (postage stamp!!!!) collection. In this case Tur AND Barbary Sheep :D.
 
Parrotsandrew said:
And maybe no climbing down a rope to reach a bucket containing a peanut - usually performed by Bubba the Yellow-crowned Amazon(or hauling up the rope as Chucky did)? Ooh, no talking parrot (Bubba in recent years) either? Oh no - and what about raising and lowering the Feathered Feats flag? :eek:
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You can relax - all of those happened, although I'm not sure of the artistes involved! 'Bubba' does ring a bell (not literally!) and was, I think, the one doing the talking. I wouldn't make a very good witness, would I? I blame my camera ;)
 
Gigit said:
You can relax - all of those happened, although I'm not sure of the artistes involved! 'Bubba' does ring a bell (not literally!) and was, I think, the one doing the talking. I wouldn't make a very good witness, would I? I blame my camera ;)
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Phew, that is a relief. It will have been Bubba doing the talking and presumably singing (for example the Laurel and Hardy theme tune). Bubba has done it for about eight seasons now since the sad death (at 40 plus) of Pablo the Yellow-naped Amazon. It sounds as though Chucky may be in the show after all then. Last year I think it was Tyler that did the flag, but I cannot remember if it was both the raising and lowering :confused:. I don't think Angus does anything other than fly through the hoops and Fred just collects the money. Of course I have lots of photos and videos of the Bird Show so it is easy enough for me to check. I am now wondering if I posted any photos of last year's shows.
 
Pertinax said:
What did I say....?;)

I reckon they have 'gone' in favour of the Tur which are seen as being a bit more exotic perhaps. Are Tur any more endangered than Barbary Sheep?:confused:
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Went to Paignton yesterday, there was at least 1 Barbary Sheep still there, along with the 4 Tur.
 
Parrotsandrew said:
I am now wondering if I posted any photos of last year's shows.
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:eek: I hadn't! Fortunately I had a few scans still on the laptop although I do not know which photo is from which day without going back to the originals. Having only checked their quality after posting them I have discovered some are not that great - I must hit myself with a ruler (this is where I need sound effects)......There done it - it was actually a Newquay Zoo ruler.
 
Parrotsandrew said:
Phew, that is a relief. It will have been Bubba doing the talking and presumably singing (for example the Laurel and Hardy theme tune). Bubba has done it for about eight seasons now since the sad death (at 40 plus) of Pablo the Yellow-naped Amazon. It sounds as though Chucky may be in the show after all then. Last year I think it was Tyler that did the flag, but I cannot remember if it was both the raising and lowering :confused:. I don't think Angus does anything other than fly through the hoops and Fred just collects the money. Of course I have lots of photos and videos of the Bird Show so it is easy enough for me to check. I am now wondering if I posted any photos of last year's shows.
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Bubba wolf-whistled and gave his chatting-up line. I remember Angus because it was pointed out that he was actually a she. It was a white bird who raised the flag, so may have been Chucky? That's the trouble with watching something through your camera, not helped by the presenter's microphone not working and her having to compete with a crying child.
 
Gigit said:
Bubba wolf-whistled and gave his chatting-up line. I remember Angus because it was pointed out that he was actually a she. It was a white bird who raised the flag, so may have been Chucky? That's the trouble with watching something through your camera, not helped by the presenter's microphone not working and her having to compete with a crying child.
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It sounds as though it was probably Chucky unless another Cockatoo has been sent down to Devon of course. I am confident it would not have been Chico (a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) who was in the Paignton show in 2004 as I saw him (?) behind the scenes at the Bird Show Theatre at Flamingo Land in June when I was the only person to turn up for the 3 o'clock show.

Ah, good old Bubba - "do you wanna come out?" Mind you I'd prefer "want to", but I'm being very picky.

I have seen many problems with the microphones over the years, especially when Bubba chewed up the wire on one during a show!
 
Caught on camera - Barbary Sheep

Following Rajang21's sighting, I've been back to the Tur/Babary Sheep enclosure. I watched for 15 minutes and saw 1 Barbary Sheep and 1.3 Tur. Here's the Sheep with and without a Tur:
 

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I'll mention this here because it happened in the West Country - as I was leaving the Tur/Barbary Sheep, I passed a group of people and overheard:
'Did you see the camels?'
'Yeh, seen 'em before. Rubbish.'

Summer at Paignton Zoo - not good for your sanity.
 
All is not lost for ParrotsAndrew then. They could publicise it- 'come and see the last Barbary Sheep in South West/Southern England'- in the whole of England I believe as far as up to Dudley and East Anglia in fact.
 
Pertinax said:
All is not lost for ParrotsAndrew then. They could publicise it- 'come and see the last Barbary Sheep in South West/Southern England'- in the whole of England I believe as far as up to Dudley and East Anglia in fact.
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You are my first sheep, you're my last,
You are my future, you're my past.

(Have I missed a trick not saying "ewe are"?)
 
Gigit said:
She's definitely zoo staff. She was aided by a volunteer.:)
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Apparently the presenter of the show during the week is the lady who used to cover my friend's day off (Tuesday). As you say she has another job within the zoo. As for the dates of the show it transpires the zoo just got it wrong on the website - and it has not been corrected.
 
Gigit said:
I'll mention this here because it happened in the West Country - as I was leaving the Tur/Barbary Sheep, I passed a group of people and overheard:
'Did you see the camels?'
'Yeh, seen 'em before. Rubbish.'

Summer at Paignton Zoo - not good for your sanity.
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While I was there, the camels were cannily standing almost 90 degrees to either side of the viewing platform. Obviously they've heard the reviews.
 
Gigit said:
Following Rajang21's sighting, I've been back to the Tur/Babary Sheep enclosure. I watched for 15 minutes and saw 1 Barbary Sheep and 1.3 Tur. Here's the Sheep with and without a Tur:
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I take it the other remaining Barbary Sheep all died off ?
 
Parrotsandrew said:
:eek: I hadn't! Fortunately I had a few scans still on the laptop although I do not know which photo is from which day without going back to the originals. Having only checked their quality after posting them I have discovered some are not that great - I must hit myself with a ruler (this is where I need sound effects)......There done it - it was actually a Newquay Zoo ruler.
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I do like your posts, you make me chuckle!;)
 
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