The Birds January 19, 2009

We saw a lot of different birds in China.  We also ate lots of birds in China.  But that’s a different story.  Anyway, most of the live birds we saw were usually hanging around in the many parks and zoos.  The crane-type one at the top (yes, crane-type, I am not an ornithologist, my apologies) decided to break free from the crowd and hang out by a museum.  I believe these other birds (clockwise, not counting the crane) a Black Necked Swan, a male Mandarin Duck and Flamingos and a female Mandarin Duck, another male Mandarin Duck, another female Mandarin Duck, and another Black Necked Swan.  Hopefully I got that right. =)

Pets October 28, 2008

In all the markets, there are lots of pets for sale.  At the night market in Taiwan, you could buy dwarf hamsters (which you can learn about here).  You could play a game that involved catching baby turtles with magnets to win the one you catch.  We went to one market in China that had a whole street dedicated to pets.

You can even buy these chicks which had dye injected into their shells before they hatched!  I have a friend who’s family used to do this.  From what I’ve heard, this doesn’t harm them, and washes off when they lose their baby feathers.

Creepy-Crawlies October 28, 2008

One of the people we met had these pet stag beetles.  Rawr!

Because of its tropical climate, Taiwan hosts many little critters.  You can always expect a chirping gecko to be climbing on your walls.  If you can’t see it, you’ll hear it.

There are lots of snakes slithering around (usually not indoors).  

A type of poisonous lizard lived in the old, broken toilet in the alley by our house.  

Frogs were everywhere!  They came in all sizes.  

The only creepy-crawlies that really bugged me were the white grubs that swam around in the flooded soccer field after the typhoon.

talk about greedy September 15, 2008

 

Feed me!

Almost every park you go to in Taiwan will have a pond full of koi (carp) and, of course, a place to buy food for them.  The food, boxes of brown pellets, was pretty cheap, so we fed the fish a few times.  They would thrash around, turning the water white, as they fought for the food.  It’s fun to watch, but a bit frightening.  I wouldn’t want to fall in.

A face only a mother could love

 Koi don’t look so beautiful when you’re staring down into their innards.  It’s definitely fun to be able to see them up close, though.