Arepas and Dancing and Parrots – Oh My!

This past weekend was the 25th Festival Latino here in Columbus, Ohio. There were all the usual suspects such as food:

Dancing, singing and things for sale (I’ve learned that I cannot do the Bachata but am fairly good at the Merengue)

But there was also a parrot rescue group displaying a few parrots from tropical North and South America for the crowds to see. The birds were stunning and well behaved (save for a few bird squabbles over snacks); with supervision from the group you could even have one sit on your arm or in my case have a “wooooo” off with a parrot.

Eclectus Parrot

Blue Yellow Macaw

Scarlet Macaw and feathered friends

Scarlet Macaw with watermelon snack

This is Mickey, the hammiest Hyacinth Macaw ever. He is the parrot that I had the “wooo” off with. Isn’t his face so animated looking? It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species; native to central and eastern South America. While you can’t see it in this image, these parrots come in at about a meter (3 feet) long and have been known to live 50 years in the wild.

Hyacinth Macaw

While I was unable to stay as long as I wished to (still working on improving my health with physical therapy beginning today) it was good to get out and to eat more than I should have – don’t tell my doctor!

Teri 📷