Meeting Irene Pepperberg...

More Boston Pictures.

One of my trainers, Stephanie White, & I preparing to perform a program for pre-schoolers as part of the documentary.

My visit to Boston!

Here I am on my way to Boston, Massachusetts! I went there right before Thanksgiving to participate in a documentary for a British T.V. show called Blink T.V. It wanted to highlight African Greys & how people use them in various aspects of educational & scientific settings. I guest starred along with Dr. Irene Pepperberg from The Alex Foundation.

Golden Girl, Betty White, visits Knoxville & the Zoo...

On Friday, November 2nd, I got a thrill of a lifetime! Betty White, one of the most well-known & beloved celebrities of today, wanted an opportunity to meet me while touring the zoo. She had traveled to Knoxville to take part in a charity dinner for the Morris Animal Foundation on the volunteer Princess Cruises.

Busy Bunch of Birds...

So, the past month has been extremely busy--we have been traveling to places all over Knoxville performing outreaches with me & my friends! There has barely been any time to notice the leaves (& seasons) changing. I have also been doing a lot of traveling outside of Knoxville. Not to mention have had some rather interesting visitors comeing to the Knoxvlle Zoo to meet me. It has been so much fun... I can't wait til I have pictures to share with everybody.

My First Assmebly Show...

So, today was the first assembly show of the year! We traveled to John Sevier Elementary School & performed for about 120 kids. I went with a few of my friends & talked all about animals & their adaptations. Probably the most exciting part of the program was the debut of one of my newest friends, Maya, the Boa Constrictor! She is a 7 1/2 foot long snake that weighs in at an incredible 30 pounds!! Hopefully we will be making our way out to see you at your school very soon. Remember to call & book a show with the Zoomobile & me!

You Too Can Do The Zoo! Friday, September 28th

WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join us for the 7th annual "You Too Can Do The Zoo" at Knoxville Zoo. This event is designed for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the zoo for FREE. Admission and ticket sales stop one hour before the zoo closes.

"You Too Can Do The Zoo" was created in 2000 in an effort to promote the re-designed entrance to Knoxville Zoo, which is much more accessible and user-friendly for the disabled than the old entrance. Kids Cove, added in April 2005, is another addition that makes Knoxville Zoo a great place to visit.

People with disabilities will receive:

* Free parking (with a disabled parking tag or license plate)
* Free admission
* Sign language interpreter throughout various locations in the Zoo. This service is provided by Knoxville Center for the Deaf.
* Zoo staff and volunteers share animal information
* Educational presentations
* Manual and electric wheelchairs available for rent as available

Also, special Bird Show times throughout the day, so come by & see me.

BIRD SHOWS: 11:30, 12:30

Bob the Builder comes to the zoo...

Parties for the Zoo!

There really hasn't been a lot going on at the zoo since shows have moved to weekends only. The only news I have for the past few weeks is that I went to a party last Friday! It was a Zoofari party purchased by Don & Maureen Bosch... it was pretty neat. The wonderful sushi restaurant, Nama, catered all the food & drinks for the night while I provided the entertainment! I'm pretty sure that everybody had a great time, & I can't wait to see what this week has in store for me.

Labor Day Shows.

Well, it's that time of the year yet again. The Bird Shows are wrapping up at the zoo. This Monday, September 6th, will be the last time you will be able to see me perform in the bird show during the week. The times are always the same--11:30, 12:30, & 2:30. After Labor Day, shows will continue every Saturday & Sunday for as long as the weather permits. So, if you still haven't made a trip out to see me, be sure to stop by the Knoxville Zoo & head to the Bird Show for a "feather-raising" good time!

Want to see more of me in action? CLICK HERE...

Photobucket Album

NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK!!!

The week of July 16th is officially being recognized as NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK!!! I am so excited about this honor mainly because it's so nice to see the people that care for all zoo animals to be acknowledged for their wonderful devotion. In honor of this, the Knoxville Zoo is offering a few benefits that include a pizza party on Wednesday, July 18th, along with a 40% discount in the zoo shop for all keepers lasting the entire week! So, in short, here's to you zoo keepers--thanks for always keeping our bellies full & our houses clean!!!

***If you are interested in learning more about National Zoo Keeper Week please refer to the official AAZK site for more details.

RITTA COMES TO VISIT!!

I recently got a very pleasant surprise... a visit from some of favorite fans!!! The children from Ritta Elementary came to visit the zoo & made a special stop in at the Bird Show to see me & all my friends. I love these kids because they not only understand that it requires a lot of work & dedication from a lot of people to care for animals, but they are also willing to try & help out!! I am so happy they adopted me & had such a great time seeing them. Once again, "THANK YOU!!" Ritta Elementary for all of your support!

More pictures of Ritta Visit...

Superstition or Truth?

You come & be the judge!! This summer is full of things to do at the Zoo. After you go by Zoo Spy, you should head over to the Reptile Department & get a look at the White Alligator. It is extremely neat! See what happens when you "look in dem eyes"!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA!!!

This past Sunday, April 22nd, I was asked to make a very special appearance. Ella Clayton turned 4 years old, & I got the honor of leading her friends & family in singing Happy Birthday! It was so much fun, & everybody seemed to really enjoy themselves. There were some of my friends from the Education Department there, too. Hopefully it will become a yearly tradition for little Ella to celebrate her birthday with all her animal friends here at the Zoo.

This Place is BUGGED!

If you haven't been in to see our new exhibit for the summer, you should definitely make time. Agent 00Z is on a mission, & he needs your help to solve the puzzle! Just to do my part, I have come up with a little story to go along with the mission. So, if you need extra help with the clues, come by the Bird Show & listen closely.

Show Season on the Horizon!

APRIL 14th: Let the shows begin...

Be sure to stop in to see an all new show this summer. We'll hopefully help shed some light on just a few common myths & misconceptions surrounding birds & other wildlife.

TINY TOTS AT TIGER TOPS

Here are a few more pictures... these are actually from a program I helped with here at the zoo. If it has been a while since you've been to the zoo, you might not realize that the old restaurant--TIGER TOPS-- has been remodeled to be an on-site areas for educational sleep overs & programs at the zoo! This one was for 2 & 3 year olds.

Last School Show of the Year!!!

Well, here are just a few of my favorite pictures from one of our final school shows. The groups at Grace Christian Academy were great. I always have so much fun going outside the zoo & meeting new people!

Grace Christian Academy School Show~ 2007

Spring is Coming...

Well, it is officially March 1st. That might not mean a lot to some people, but here at the zoo it means that we are wrapping up school shows & preparing for the summer Bird Show season. We have A LOT of new animals for the shows this year, & I think it will be a GREAT season, as always!! Everybody should plan on making it to the zoo to see if I've learned any new cues!!!

Touching Surprise...

I recently went to Ritta Elementary for a show, & it turns out that the class I was performing for had actually "adopted" me through the zoo. I thought that was very neat. So, that means, these aspiring superstars help me get everything I need in order to stay happy, healthy, & celebrity-ready!! Thanks Ritta for caring so much.

Trip Out West!!!

I recently returned from a trip to South Dakota. I appeared at a conference for a local organization known as "Birds & Bloom". It was very exciting & fun! They had a bunch of T.V. shows lined up for us to appear on as soon as we stepped off the plane... I felt like a real-life SUPERSTAR!! The sights were so interesting, & we even got to go to the TOP of Crazy Horse National Park. (very cool)
We also got to see Mt. Rushmore, which is home to some pretty amazing people such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, & Abraham Lincoln. Did you know... Mount Rushmore has over 3 MILLION visitors from all over the country & world!!One more very interesting fact: there were approximately 400 workers that were involved in the carving of the memorial, & it took from October 1927 until October 1941!!! I have to say that seeing Mt. Rushmore was almost too much to handle, mainly because it's a landmark that is so recognizable, & to actually see it in person was great.
One last, extremely flattering, point was when we received the KEY to Rapid City, South Dakota!!! We were very honored & privileged.

up close with a true "SUPERSTAR"!!