An exotic bird in Brazil snatched up by smugglers and and accidentally ended up in a cold weather state of Minnesota was a fairly lame plot line in a movie for some. But to our kids it was enough to have them shaking their tail feather thanks to the strikingly bold colors of Rio’s carnival and quirky adventures of the Blu and Jewel. So on our first full day in Singapore we ditched our plan to Marina Bay and get on the MRT to Boon Lay and boarded on bus 194 en route to Jurong Bird Park. 
off to bus 194
This park wasn’t high on my list things to see and do in Singapore. But due to the popularity of the movie Rio and mobile game Angry Birds I gave in to the request of my eldest kid. The park was laid out very well. Its set up in such a way that the 5000 birds representing 380 species live in a natural setting. Landscaping is also well thought of as you follow a route that leads you through the thematic sections. Covering a 20.2 hectare it’s no wonder that Jurong is the largest bird park in the world.Being in a Southeast Asian country, there’s a remote possibility that you might see a penguin in the wild. Again I could be wrong. But such wasn’t the case when we passed by the Penguin Coast near the entrance. The adorable clumsy walking flightless birds were joy to watch as they swim gracefully in the open aquarium.
It didn’t take that long when we get to see the flock of multicolored macaw. It’s probably one of the popular section in the park as people make a beeline for a photo ops with these wingding eye candy. The area was getting crowded but I was able to sneaked for a couple of shots before moving to Flamingo Pool.
Ceiling of the Origami Village
Flamingo Pool
Just when we thought we had enough of the flamingos, the Flamingo Lake offers a more delightful showcase of these long-legged pink birds. There wasn’t enough thrill for the Hawk Walk, Riverine and Wetlands section. One of the section we enjoyed is the Southeast Asian Bird Aviary where a thunderstorm is simulated throughout the day. We even get to see our very own Luzon Bleeding Heart Pigeon representing Polilio Island.
Flamingo Lake
The Pelican Cove on the other hand accommodate the comprehensive collection of Pelicans. The mere mention of Pelican reminds me of Nigel, the pelican in the movie Finding Nemo. It’s large beak and throat pouch is mainly used in catching it’s prey. Endowed with such characteristics these large birds surely know how to scoop.
Pelican Cove
The Pelicans
Joaqui tries to measure up with the pelican wingspan
The African Waterfall Aviary is my favorite among the many attractions of Jurong, it’s the closest thing I can get to Africa. You get to feel the African vibe as you walk in to the entrance adorned with life-size African warriors and hear chirping birds as you take the scenic walk. It is also in this section you’ll get to see the world’s highest man made waterfalls.
world's highest man made waterfalls
wooden brige at the African Aviary
There are so many interesting and colorful variety birds from all over the world. What’s good about it is almost all of them roam/fly freely. If you’re tired of walking you can take the tram to get a glimpse of all the section in the park. And just like any other park there are places to grab quick snack and other facilities whenever you need to take a break. Half day wasn’t enough to cover the whole park.
Here are some tips you might find helpful when you check out Jurong Bird Park:
- Entrance Fee: 18SGD/adults 12SGD/kids (3 yrs old and below are free).
- Park opens at 0800AM-0600PM daily.
- Food/drinking water onsite is rather expensive make sure to bring your own.
- Make sure to bring umbrella for some unexpected rain and extreme heat.
- Visit their site for more information.
