Photo by Cláudio Dias Timm (CC 2.0)
It’s magical when you see an animal you’ve never seen before. You may have heard about it, read about it, or seen it on TV. Or maybe you had no clue the animal even existed. But suddenly, there it is! Walking, trotting, scampering, bounding, flying or swimming across your path.
Most of these magical encounters happen when I travel overseas. And I was amused to read an online account this week written by a traveler from the UK. He was visiting Florida when he spotted an armadillo. He talked about the thrill he experienced viewing this “exotic” creature.
For me, an armadillo is hardly exotic. But I comprehend his excitement. I am always thrilled to see animals I’ve never seen before. In fact, his enthusiasm reminded me of an incident that happened several years ago.
I traveled to see the rain forests of Costa Rica, where I delighted in seeing parrots for the first time. I watched, spellbound, as the colorful and exotic (to me) birds romped in the trees overhead.
When I arrived home (in suburban southern California), I returned to my daily routine. One afternoon, while dozing on the couch of my apartment I heard… parrots! In my semi-conscious state I assumed I was dreaming. Or maybe I was losing my mind!
But no, I definitely heard parrots! I leapt from the couch and scrambled outside. There I beheld a flock of bright green birds roosting high in the trees above. I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was surreal to see not one but dozens of exotic animals on my doorstep.
Long time residents confirmed my sighting. They told me the story that has become part of the local mythology. Nobody knows for certain how the parrots came to live in the area. The widely accepted story is that they were set free to save them when a large pet store burned down in 1959 or 1969 (versions vary).
I would never have recognized their calls if I hadn’t seen these “exotic” creatures in Costa Rica. It made me wonder what other alien creatures are lurking about waiting for us to recognize them…
Have you stumbled upon aliens on your doorstep? Tell me about it in the comments below.
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Hi Steve, do you know about the parrots of Sunnyvale? There is a large flock (or multiple flocks) that live in and around Las Palmas Park. We here them all the time, they are very loud!
Another group lives in San Francisco: they even had a movie made about them, The Parrots of Telegraph Hill.
Susan, I had no idea there were parrots in Sunnyvale! I will have to go look for them. I heard about the parrots of Telegraph Hill. But I have not seen them. I think I will don my pith helmet and go looking for the Sunnyvale parrots!