Chapter 609: The Crested Ibis Eating Loaches

"Wow, what a divine love story!"

Tang Xiaoxin couldn't help but yearn for a similar relationship. If she could find someone with whom she shared mutual interests and have a lifelong romance, growing old together, it would be wonderful.

However, in today's society, such thoughts seemed a bit unrealistic, given how many people divorce over trivial matters daily.

Why is it that, for gibbons, lifelong monogamy seems so natural?

They truly are fascinating animals.

She called out, "Hey Keke, take a picture of me!"

Standing next to the wooden sculptures of the gibbons, she made a heart shape with her hands. Then she took a photo of Qian Keke as well.

After visiting the gibbons, Qian Keke enthusiastically suggested, "Should we go check out the wolf exhibit? At this time, we might hear their morning chorus! It's been a while since we visited, and I'm curious about how the wolf pups are doing."

Tang Xiaoxin checked the directional signpost, "The Crane Pavilion is just behind us! Let's go see the red-crowned cranes first!"

Recently, a red-crowned crane from Linhai Zoo flew into the tiger exhibit, and a visitor captured it on video.

The elegant red-crowned crane performed a display of "White Crane Spreads Its Wings," even chasing the tigers. The amusing video quickly went viral online, and Tang's mom showed it to Tang Xiaoxin.

She was quite curious about the martial arts skills of the red-crowned crane.

Qian Keke countered, "But Black Charcoal and the others usually sing their morning chorus early. If we go late, we might miss it. Let's check them out first and then come back!"

Tang Xiaoxin hesitated, "But running back and forth is a hassle!"

When the zoo had fewer animals, there was no need to think much; you could visit everything in one go.

With more animals, you have to consider the visiting route, which is a happy kind of trouble.

Now, the large signboard at the entrance of Linhai Zoo marks the approximate time needed to visit each themed exhibit and recommends several routes.

For example, the Panda House + Predator Corridor (lions, tigers) + Large Animal Zone (elephants, giraffes, hippos) are must-sees if you visit only once a year.

If kids like fluffy, cute animals, they can visit the Panda House + Mixed Habitat (foxes, sika deer) + Plateau Zone (marmots, Pallas's cats), and the Little Farm (alpacas, rabbits, ducks), where they can also feed the animals.

Bird enthusiasts can enjoy the Tropical Bird House + Crane Pavilion + Waterfowl Lake + Flamingo Lake, ensuring a satisfying visit.

Of course, if you don't mind the hassle, you can visit multiple times over several days, or even book a room at the hot spring hotel. Wake up to the pleasant sounds of insects and birds, stroll leisurely through the zoo, enjoy the animals, savor delicious food, and relax in the hot springs at night.

Qian Keke, full of energy, didn't mind the extra effort.

The two girls discussed and decided to visit the Crane Pavilion first!

A winding, ancient-style corridor extended inward, surrounded by lush green grass and verdant trees.

Clear streams gurgled over moss-covered stones, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere that was refreshing and calming.

Occasionally, they spotted fluffy-tailed squirrels scampering up trees, clutching branches before disappearing, and groups of red-billed blue magpies with striking red beaks hopping and flying among the treetops.

These wild creatures were naturally drawn to the zoo's beautiful environment and had settled there. Fang Ye welcomed them wholeheartedly.

Turning a corner, they came upon a lawn with a shallow beach behind it!

Two white birds with red faces were wading in the shallows, stepping with their red legs, heads bowed as if searching for food.

Their beaks, though long and pointed like those of red-crowned cranes, were slightly curved rather than straight.

Their back feathers were a pale lead-gray, looking somewhat dirty, and they had ribbon-like crests resembling braids draped over their heads.

Noticing the girls, the birds looked up warily but, seeing they were still some distance away, resumed their foraging.

Tang Xiaoxin curiously asked, "What kind of birds are these?"

She glanced at the nearby sign and was stunned, "They're crested ibises!?"

In her memory, crested ibises had pale red feathers and were very beautiful, somewhat resembling flamingos!

Had she remembered wrong?

No, "crested ibis" means they should be red! Why do these look so plain?

Qian Keke was also surprised, "Are they really crested ibises?"

Tang Xiaoxin pointed to a sign showing different feather colors of the crested ibis, "There's an explanation here!"

They carefully read the sign, which revealed the secrets of the crested ibis's feather colors!

Many birds change their plumage during the breeding season to attract mates.

For example, the mandarin ducks and mallards at the Waterfowl Lake!

Female mandarin ducks look gray and dull, while male mandarin ducks have flamboyant, colorful feathers, looking like striking fireworks on the water.

But in summer, the male mandarin ducks seem to disappear, leaving only the plain females.

In reality, the males shed their breeding plumage in summer, donning drab gray feathers, transforming from "colorful gods" to "Cinderellas."

The same goes for mallards; the males' distinctive green heads disappear in summer, making them look no different from females.

Ducks typically don their breeding plumage around January and start pairing up in their wintering grounds, shedding the colorful feathers by June or July.

For crested ibises, black is their idea of beauty!

During the breeding season from March to June, a ring around their necks secretes a black substance.

While bathing in water, they rub this black substance onto their necks and backs, achieving a dark coloration.

Initially, the feathers turn pure black, gradually fading to gray-black as they dry!

By July or August, they molt, and their feathers return to pristine white, as pure as snow.

The red color is actually on the undersides of their wings.

Tang Xiaoxin exclaimed, "So that's it!"

She turned her attention back to the crested ibises in the exhibit, just in time to see one plunge its head into the mud, its sharp beak probing.

It seemed to have found prey but missed, shaking its head and feathers before pecking again, splashing water.

This time, it succeeded!

An ibis caught a loach with its sharp beak, the loach wriggling and thrashing like a snake, wrapping around the ibis's long beak. The ibis shook its head vigorously, trying to stun the loach.

But it was too slippery and slipped from its beak, wriggling on the grass. The ibis quickly chased it, eyes fixed, head darting to peck and clamp down on the loach from head to tail.

After a few more struggles, the loach, either too injured or exhausted, wriggled less and less. Finally, the ibis lifted it with a shake of its beak, raised its head, blinked, and swallowed it down.