Wing It Here To This Secret Sanctuary
If you’re anything like me and don’t know an Alexandrian Parrot from a Red Lored Amazon or an Eclectus from a Conure, then a trip to Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Del Mar, CA will do the trick.
Recently my daughters and I visited this nonprofit that has a passion for boarding, saving, nurturing, and rehabilitating exotic birds that find their way here through any number of ways. Sharing all things avian with the public is an integral part of the mission of this worthwhile refuge, and you don’t have to be in the market for a pet bird to enjoy the outing. Visitors have the unique opportunity to mingle with the fine-feathered residents in a jungle-like setting that has space for up to 80 birds and a koi pond where kids can feed the ravenously colorful school for a quarter.
Before going, we didn’t know what a White Bellied Caique was and now we’ve fallen head over feathers in love with Tosey, a year-old cutie from the outreach flock. She perched on us, did a bouncing dance, whistled her admiration, and let us pet her as she ate seed right out of our hands. While she isn’t up for adoption, at least not yet, many more are available to the right homes. The staff is trained in matching the right potential owner to the best bird and in helping people decide if a bird is the right pet for their family.
Free Flight is located at 2132 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014, (858) 481-3148. Admission is an affordable $5 for adults and $2 for children 13 and under. It’s open M-T-Th-F-Sa-Su from 10 am to 4 pm and Wed from 10 am to 2 pm. Closed on national holidays. Call ahead to confirm, as weather conditions can cause closures.
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Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary
What a great post – I love Free Flight because it is nestled in Del Mar and offers an experience to learn more about parrots whether you want to look at them, touch them or hold them.