Discovery Cove’s Best Kept Secret

As I mentioned in my previous post, I truly believe Discovery Cove to be the best kept secret in Orlando.  However, within the walls of Discovery Cove there lies another well kept Orlando secret.  Imagine a place in which exotic birds and wildlife are so tame, they will literally eat from your hand.  This is exactly what you will experience at Discovery Coves jungle aviary.

As you wait for your dolphin encounter, make sure you allocate a portion of your day to exploring the three aviaries of Discovery Cove.  The aviary, spanning both land and water, is home to over 200 exotic birds representing 30 different species from all over the world that you can mingle with, touch, and feed.  As you enter the aviary there are trainers who provide you with various types of bird food and will happily answer any questions you may have about the wildlife that lives within the aviary.  Most of the birds have been hand-raised by these trainers and are so tame that they have no problem eating right out of your hand!  So, as you walk through the three aviaries of Discovery Cove be prepared for birds to unexpectedly land on your hands, arms, shoulders (and sometimes even your head)! 

As I pointed out above, the trainers will provide you with food as you enter the aviary with the specific type of food they give you determining which birds you will attract.  You can pick from grain pellets, fruit, or meal worms depending on what species you are interesting in seeing up close and personal.  If you are in to bird watching and want to test out your skills, make sure to pick up a laminated chart that identifies all the species in the aviary when you first walk in.

There is no time limit while visiting the aviary, so go slow and be sure to take in all that Discovery Cove’s three aviaries have to offer!  Discovery Cove was conveniently located only minutes from my Orlando vacation rental at Windsor Hills Resort and offered free, complimentary parking for all its guests. 

Jordan