Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:
In June my wife and I took my mom for a walk around the premises of our own Indianapolis Zoo to check out the current residents and the architectural upgrades on a sunny but not-so-sweltering Saturday. In this very special miniseries, we’ll take a look at the beasts and critters who welcomed us and hundreds of other families along the way.
In today’s chapter: feathers! Wings! Beaks! Colors! And one special visitor for the holiday, trying his best not to be seen.

We arrived at the zoo just as the first hourly macaw talk was ending. This one was clearly done performing for the moment.

The little diva also refused to leave its perch at first. The handler took several tries to coax it into returning to its habitat. Maybe the air out here was a bit fresher.

The “Magnificent Macaws”, the Zoo’s newest habitat that just opened Memorial Day weekend, hosts some macaws who like hanging out on branches, and others who like hanging from the ceiling.

Not far away, the Zoo’s prized bald eagle glowers behind a chain-link fence, but I’m sure he wishes us all a Happy 4th of July! (See, I didn’t forget this year.)

Flamingos are so picturesque and innately kitschy at the same time that it’s hard to imagine them being okay with romping in mud.

As with humans, flamingos have their own dichotomies. Some love frolicking in sun-kissed pools; others would rather forage in shady troughs.

Every time we’ve visited the Zoo over the years, there’s one bridge in the Plains area that always has one (1) ostrich hanging out below. For all I know, maybe it’s the same introverted specimen every time.

A pair of Cabot’s tragopans, possibly pretending that gravel is a field of eggs they need to keep warm.

Penguins are the only birds living in the Oceans section, playing and swimming and generally keeping the glass all wet so photos are next to impossible. Still not as bad a chain-link fence, though.
To be continued! Other chapters in this miniseries:
Part 1: Lions and Tigers and Bears!
Part 3: Reluctant Monkeys
Part 4: The Birds II: Budgie & Lorie
Part 5: Everybody in the Water
Part 6: A Cold-Blooded Cache
Part 7: Last Call for Critters
Part 8: Habitats & Handicraft